Dan Campbell Delivers Legendary 'Build Our Legacy' Speech
During a team meeting at the start of the 2023 season, Detroit Lions head Coach Dan Campbell delivered a speech that would inevitably set the tone for the season.
Detroit's third-year head coach delivered a speech that would state the objective and set the course for a group that eventually would win their first division title in three decades.
"Good morning. Here we go guys, this is day one. This is going to take everybody in this room," said Campbell. "I want to do something special. Do you? I swear to God, I will do something special. Like, everything from this point, moving forward, is how we position ourselves to have the best possible spot to now move forward."
Campbell, in his experience as a player and in coaching, has tapped into exactly what players need in order to feel welcomed and to put in the work needed to overcome obstacles.
The NFL is a business and a very competitive one, but Campbell's no-nonsense and straight up approach makes tough decisions easier to handle and respected by the vast majority of his players and those who work for him.
Campbell does not shy away from tough realities, addressing them and putting forth a positive mindset that has allowed young players to power through tough losses.
"We're gonna have bumps in the road. You were built for that s**t. This team is built for that s**t," Campbell declared. "We hit hard times, we keep pushing forward. You know what that is about. Nobody handles that s**t like we do."
In the back of the meeting room, Campbell had players like Alex Anzalone and Charles Harris read the last semblances of success the organization had, setting the stage for building a new path forward.
"We build our legacy now. We build our legacy," said Campbell. "We are in a unique position with this team. We're able to do something that not many teams are able to do. And that's to build a legacy, somehow.
"That's what I think of. It's not, 'Are we going to be able to get it done?' We're going to do it gentlemen. We will f****n do it. But, everything is about setting ourselves up. That's what I'm thinking. That's why division championship, we get a home game. They got to come through us. And you know what - so be it, if we got to go somewhere else (road game), fine. But that's what this is about. The end in mind. The vision. And our legacy starts now. We're gonna do something special gentlemen. And we will never forget this season. Ever."
