Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell put a cap on the workforce’s 2026 season on Monday afternoon with a comparatively temporary press convention. In an 11-minute session, Campbell expressed his frustrations about what went unsuitable this 12 months, talked about some imprecise plans for what’s subsequent, and gave himself a really harsh grade for the way he dealt with the 12 months.
Listed here are my 5 greatest takeaways from Campbell’s end-of-season press convention.
No teaching choices have been made… but
Dan Campbell has been hinting at making some modifications this offseason—not essentially on the teaching employees—nevertheless it actually doesn’t take a lot studying between the traces to infer that could possibly be on the desk. Throughout his Monday presser, Campbell stated that it will likely be the very first thing he assesses later this week.
“The very first thing I’ve acquired to determine is the employees. I must make it possible for—the place can we go from right here?” Campbell stated. “I simply must both—I must make it possible for I be ok with the place the fellows are at, the positions they’re in. Or can we tweak a few issues, transfer a few guys? Can we keep pat?”
Final week, Campbell stood up for Kelvin Sheppard, noting that he feels just like the first-time defensive coordinator did a “rattling good job,” whereas additionally noting he hadn’t made any choices on his—or anybody’s— future but.
A part of the staffing choices Campbell must make is whether or not he’ll proceed to name performs for the offense shifting ahead. The Lions coach didn’t present a lot readability on the place he’s presently leaning in that call.
“I’m open to something. I don’t know precisely the place I’m at with that but,” Campbell stated. “I imply, I assume one of many good issues if I did try this, you don’t have to fret about any person else leaving. You don’t have to fret about your play-caller leaving. So, that will be one of many perks of it. However pay attention, I’m going to suppose by way of all of that, and I believe I actually need to do what I really feel is greatest for the workforce.”
Getting again to “the bottom degree”
One of many extra mysteriously intriguing components of Campbell’s press convention was his need to have the workforce working extra like they did a number of years in the past.
“I need to get again to a number of the issues we had been doing a few years in the past. And what I imply by that’s simply getting again to somewhat little bit of what we did on the floor degree, just a bit little bit of the best way we prepare, the best way we go about issues,” Campbell stated. “That is going to be coaching camp for us. We’re going to return and actually sharpen the sword somewhat bit. And I do know that’s a methods off, however I believe that’s the massive factor.”
When pushed about what the Lions might have gotten away from this 12 months, Campbell opted to not get into particulars about what he was speaking to, nevertheless it actually looks as if he’s implying ramping issues up somewhat extra subsequent 12 months. Previously, Campbell has talked regularly about avoiding complacency, however—except I’m studying him unsuitable—it feels like it might have crept in somewhat this 12 months.
Studying from Frank Ragnow’s retirement
This season, it’s clear the Lions missed All-Professional heart Frank Ragnow after his sudden retirement. And whereas it’s nonetheless not fully clear how a lot readability the Lions had on Ragnow’s state of affairs throughout free company and the draft, Campbell admitted they are going to take some classes from that state of affairs because it pertains to the unsure futures of Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, and Dan Skipper—all of whom have at the very least talked about the opportunity of retirement this 12 months.
Within the subsequent day or two, Campbell and common supervisor Brad Holmes intend on talking with Decker—as they do with all of their gamers—however they comprehend it’ll take a while earlier than the Lions’ left deal with can make a decision.
“No matter goes down there from his perspective, he’s going to wish a while. I imply, you simply do whenever you’ve performed so long as he has and had the profession he’s had. You’re going to wish somewhat bit,” Campbell stated. “However completely, we discovered classes.”
Campbell is content material with coaching employees
It was one other 12 months of accidents for the Detroit Lions, nevertheless it’s honest to say that from Dan Campbell’s perspective, they had been extra unfortunate than unprepared. In his opinion, a rise in soft-tissue accidents can be extra of a trigger for alarm.
“That’s the place I at all times begin as a result of should you’ve acquired a serious tender tissue situation, then it’s extra than simply the participant, for my part,” Campbell stated.
That wasn’t a very massive drawback with the Lions this 12 months. Campbell truly stated they’ve “been nice” in that division. As a substitute, issues like Achilles tears or damaged bones—freak accidents—had been the most important points for the workforce this 12 months.
He believes they’ve completed nearly all the things they’ll, from slowing down the tempo of observe to rushing it up, and it simply hasn’t gone their means. And in the case of their medical employees, Campbell threw his full assist behind the crew.
“I like our coaching employees. I believe they do a hell of a job, I actually do. It’s simply it was a tricky 12 months in some areas,” Campbell stated.
Teaching grade: Freakin’ F
Folks thought I used to be onerous on the teaching employees in my Week 18 report card, however nobody is tougher on himself than Dan Campbell. When requested how he would assess his personal efficiency this previous season, he didn’t maintain again.
“Not adequate. We didn’t get in. I imply, we underachieved. So, not good. I’m going to present myself a freaking F,” Campbell stated.
Clearly, that’s somewhat dramatic, however for him, it’s clear this was extra of a go/fail grade. Expectations had been to compete for a Tremendous Bowl, and so they didn’t make the playoffs. For him, there is no such thing as a different grade than F, and I wouldn’t count on something aside from this full accountability from Campbell.
