Report: Dan Campbell the favorite to become Lions head coach

Posted by Myles Simmons on January 15, 2021, 1:42 PM EST
USA Today Sports

It looks like one more head coaching vacancy is off the board.

Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell is the favorite to become the next Lions head coach, according to a report from NFL media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Campbell interviewed with the Lions on Monday. He’s not able to have a second interview with Detroit, which hired Brad Holmes to be its G.M. on Thursday, until the Saints’ season is over.

A former tight end in the league from 1999-2009, Campbell has been with the Saints since 2016. Before that, he was the Dolphins tight ends coach from 2011-2015, spending the last 12 games of the 2015 season as Miami’s interim head coach. The Dolphins were 5-7 under Campbell.

Campbell spent three seasons with the Lions as a player from 2006-2008.

The Lions were reportedly going to meet with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Friday, but called off the meeting, per NFL media’s Mike Garafolo. Campbell emerging as the favorite was part of the reason why.

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13 responses to “Report: Dan Campbell the favorite to become Lions head coach”

  1. Good job, Lions. I really thought they were going to hire Marvin Lewis. Instead they’re gambling that they’ve identified a star GM and star HC before they become stars. Hopefully it works out this time.

  3. Campbell did a good job for the Dolphins- I thought he deserved a shot with them (instead of Gase). Good luck to him.

  5. Based on past record, this is probably another fail. But I hope not. Perhaps the time finally hits right on the broken clock?

  6. I’d say it’s about time. He’s been on the HC radar for a few years now, and he certainly has been getting groomed for the role! Good choice, same as with Saleh for the Jets.

  7. I like Dan as coach of the Dolphins, even though I didn’t think he was ready yet.

    A couple of years under a great coach has probably given him a breadth of knowledge about what it takes to succeed.

  8. I’ve heard this was the guy for a while now, but I didn’t believe it. However, it’s the Lions, so of course it was true.

  10. Sounds like another Chris Spielman pick. There’s a Matt Patricia fan in Detroit who will hate this.

  11. There’s always a reason that the Lions are perennial losers! This is a prime example! This guy while not terrible is not a front line candidate! If the Lions wanted to make the needle move, this isn’t it! More losing ahead!

  12. Just what the Lions need…a good blocking tight end. Plus he has experience going 0-16.

    s/ aside – good luck, coach. You’re going to need it.

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