Peyton Manning’s Supportive Text to Dan Campbell After Lions’ Playoff Loss
After the Detroit Lions’ playoff run ended in a disappointing 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders, Peyton Manning knew exactly how Dan Campbell and his team were feeling. The Hall of Fame quarterback had experienced a similar heartbreak during his 2005 Indianapolis Colts season, where his 15-2 team was knocked out in the divisional round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Manning, having lived through that sting, reached out to Campbell. “I know how you feel, I’ve been there, and it’s not a good feeling,” Manning texted. But he also offered some hope, reminding Campbell that the Colts bounced back the next year and won the Super Bowl. “You just kind of keep sawing wood,” Manning advised.
That kind of loss could easily make a team reconsider its entire approach, but Manning believes that if the Lions stay focused, they’ll find success down the road. He added, “Your organization and owner can say, ‘Hey, we’re doing something right, let’s keep going.’”
As the Lions look to the future, there’s been a lot of focus on defensive upgrades, with general manager Brad Holmes reportedly eyeing Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart in the latest NFL Mock Draft Consensus. Manning also reflected on the Colts’ bounce-back season, where “Finish” became their theme.
For the Lions, it might be time to adopt the same mentality. Manning’s advice? “We were obviously doing something right. Just needed to do a little bit more.”
Peyton Manning Sends Empathetic Text to Dan Campbell After Lions’ Playoff Loss
