By Sunday 
Dan Campbell might just be the biggest spring football fan in the NFL right now.
While most fans look at the UFL as just a way to keep football alive during the NFL offseason, the Detroit Lions’ head coach sees something more — something a little strategic.
“Football Ready” in July? Yes, Please
During Friday’s training camp media chat, Campbell was asked about the United Football League — a league that’s quietly been growing in viewership thanks to solid TV deals with ESPN, FOX, and ABC. His response was classic Campbell: direct, no fluff, and deeply football.
“NFL Europe was awesome back in the day because that was a chance to really develop guys,” he said.
“You get to see them, they’re playing in the spring so they’re in shape…that’s enticing to us.”
Translation? While other leagues are vacationing, UFL players are already grinding. And that kind of readiness can be gold for NFL teams in a pinch — no guesswork, no hoping someone’s been “working out.” Campbell said it himself:
“It’s not football working out like these guys are.”
Building a Farm System (Without Calling It That)
Campbell’s words made it clear — he’s not necessarily lobbying for anything officially. But he’s also not hiding how useful the UFL could be if it kept developing talent the right way.
So while he chuckled and said, “Nobody cares what I think about that,” you better believe NFL execs are noticing how players from the UFL are already making their way onto NFL rosters — including Detroit’s.
It’s the closest thing the NFL has to a farm system right now, and Campbell’s not the only one thinking about that.
It’s All About the Evidence
When push comes to shove in the NFL — whether it’s injuries or just underperformance — you need guys who can step in now, not just “eventually.”
And Campbell’s key argument for the UFL boiled down to one word: evidence.
UFL players have film. They’ve just played full games. You don’t have to cross your fingers and hope the guy running hill sprints back home is actually football-ready. You know the guy coming from the UFL is.
The Road Ahead
The big “if” here, of course, is longevity. The UFL is still finding its legs. Leagues have come and gone, and nothing sticks unless the product is good, viewership is stable, and players keep flowing in.
But if it does? Dan Campbell — and probably a bunch of other coaches — will be the first in line to reap the rewards. Spring ball in March could start directly impacting Sundays in October.