Before Dan Campbell, Lions Had Another Campbell in Mind

Before hiring Dan Campbell as head coach, the Lions reportedly considered another candidate named Campbell who initially accepted the job offer before changing his mind.

When Dan Campbell Was Hired as Head Coach of the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions officially hired Dan Campbell as head coach on January 20, 2021, replacing Matt Patricia. He became the 28th head coach in franchise history after previously serving as the assistant head coach for the New Orleans Saints.

In addition to working under one of the NFL’s all-time great coaches, Sean Payton, Campbell played tight end for the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints, earning a reputation as a true “players’ coach.”

Dan Campbell signed a six-year deal with the Detroit Lions worth $4 million per year, totaling $24 million. While solid for a first-time NFL head coach, another candidate named Campbell was initially offered an even more lucrative deal to take the job before ultimately reversing course.

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Another Campbell Got Lions Offer Before Dan Did

According to MLive, before the Lions hired Dan Campbell, they reportedly offered the head coaching job to Iowa State’s Matt Campbell. He was said to have agreed to an eight-year, $68.5 million deal before ultimately reversing his decision and stepping away from the agreement.

Matt Campbell is now the head coach at Penn State, and Lions fans are likely relieved with how things ultimately turned out under Dan Campbell. In just five seasons, Dan has already become the fourth-winningest coach in franchise history with 48 victories.

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If Dan Campbell delivers another strong season, his agent could gain leverage to push for a pay increase, especially given reports that Matt Campbell was once offered a contract nearly three times larger than Dan’s initial deal.

👇BELOW: Inside Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell’s $4.5M Former Estate👇