By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions have long been a franchise plagued by poor leadership and coaching missteps. But in recent years, Dan Campbell has changed that narrative in a big way. Since taking over as head coach, Campbell has transformed the team’s identity—bringing grit, discipline, and, most importantly, wins. Given his performance, it’s fair to argue that he should be considered “beyond reproach from this fanbase.”
What makes Campbell’s impact so remarkable is not just the fact that he’s winning—he’s doing it while shedding decades of failure that haunted this franchise. Unlike many of his predecessors, Campbell hasn’t just avoided failure; he’s helped build a winning culture that fans across the league now admire.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports recently took a look back at the worst head coaching hires in the NFL over the last 25 years, and unsurprisingly, the Lions had more than their fair share of representation. The list reveals just how bleak things were in Detroit before Campbell’s arrival, with three former Lions coaches landing in the Top 10.
Coming in at No. 10 and No. 9, respectively, were Rod Marinelli and Matt Patricia—names that still trigger frustration among Lions faithful. Patricia, despite a seemingly forgettable 13-29-1 record, left behind more than losses. Fans who lived through his tenure will swear “on their mother’s grave” that the toxic environment he created made it impossible for the team to succeed. He’s now found a role as defensive coordinator at Ohio State, but his time in Detroit remains infamous.
Marinelli’s run was no better. He took over a 3-13 team in 2006, managed to win seven games the next season, but instead of progress, the wheels came off. The result? The infamous 0-16 season in 2008—the first of its kind in NFL history. Though he did rebound professionally with solid assistant coaching gigs in Chicago, Dallas, and Las Vegas, his stint as a head coach in Detroit was nothing short of catastrophic.
And then there’s Marty Mornhinweg, ranked even higher—or lower, depending on how you look at it—at No. 7. Hired as the first major move under GM Matt Millen, Mornhinweg’s two-year tenure produced just five wins and 27 losses. His time with the Lions is remembered more for how bleak it was than anything else. Though he later found success as an offensive coordinator with the Eagles, his run in Detroit remains the low point of his career. As one report put it: “The worst coach in Lions history makes Matt Patricia look like Bill Belichick.”
And through all of this dysfunction, the contrast with Dan Campbell couldn’t be starker. Campbell has ushered in a new era—one built on accountability, resilience, and team-first mentality. More than that, he’s made Detroit relevant again. The Lions have become a team others want to emulate.
So to any fan still harboring doubts about Campbell, take a look back at the coaches who came before him. Remember the chaos, the losing streaks, and the hopeless Sundays. In a city that’s seen so much football heartbreak, Campbell is not just a good coach—he’s a turning point.