By Sunday 
If you thought preseason games didn’t matter, Dan Campbell has news for you.
The Detroit Lions head coach wasn’t mincing words after Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game. His team—arguably one of the most hyped in the NFC—looked anything but polished in their 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. And for Campbell, there was one glaring problem: five turnovers. That’s three interceptions, two lost fumbles, and a very unhappy head coach.
“You’re Wearing Lions Gear…”
The tone was set early—as in, opening kickoff early—when Detroit fumbled the return and gave the Chargers an easy score. Things didn’t get much better from there. After the game, Campbell made it very clear that ball security isn’t just a stat—it’s a job requirement.
“We turned it over five times, and then we didn’t get any takeaways,” Campbell said bluntly. “So that’s hard just from that standpoint when you put your defense in that kind of position.”
But it was his next line that really stuck.
“You’re wearing Lions gear, you’ve got to take care of the ball, or it’s going to be hard to keep you around.”
Translation? You fumble, you fumble your roster spot.
A Message Loud and Clear
No, it’s not unusual to see sloppiness in a preseason opener. But for a team with real Super Bowl hopes, this wasn’t just about a poor performance—it was about culture. Campbell has spent the last few years rebuilding the Lions into a gritty, never-say-die unit. He’s not about to let a little preseason rust turn into a bad habit.
And honestly? He’s right. Detroit’s magical 2024 run ended in heartbreak in the divisional round. Expectations are sky-high heading into this year, and that means accountability from the jump. Ball security = job security.
The Road Ahead
The Lions have plenty of time to clean things up before their regular season kicks off against the Packers on September 7. But with Frank Ragnow retiring and other pieces in flux, Detroit can’t afford to drop the ball—literally or figuratively.
Consider this your official Dan Campbell-style PSA: Hold onto the ball, or someone else will.