Dan Campbell: 'We Want to Win a Super Bowl'
The expectations surrounding the Detroit Lions and coach Dan Campbell heading into 2023 are no secret.
In his third year leading the Lions, the veteran coach has answered plenty of questions regarding the hype his team is facing.
His persona has added intrigue, as his motivational ability and emphasis on his team's belief have made him popular.
Campbell recently appeared on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast as part of its annual "Grit Week." Here are the highlights from his conversation with hosts Dan 'Big Cat' Katz and PFT Commenter.
Reaching goals
The Lions are viewed as playoff contenders. Though the team indeed has lofty expectations, the Lions coach is adamant that he and his players must earn the right to stand on such a pedestal.
"I think it's very much the same, just in this regard. I understand what's out there, and look, we've got expectations for ourselves. We do. We should be a better team. That's what all this is about," Campbell explained. "Every year you're in it, you're building the way Brad (Holmes) and I have and players that we have, you're developing, and we expect to be a better team than we were last year. We fully expect that. We've got the same goals most teams do. Yeah, we want to win this division, we want to get in the playoffs, we want to make noise, we want to win a Super Bowl, all that. I think for us, what's interesting, we know what's out there. But, yet, we haven't done anything. Not like that.
"To me, the message stays the same in the regard of, no, we didn't win the division last year, Minnesota won it. Green Bay won it for years before that. So, to me, those are the kings in this division right now, and we have to go earn that. We didn't go to the playoffs last year, we've gotta earn that. So, to me, we're still on the outside- looking-in, and that's what keeps us hungry."
Improving late in games
Campbell caught heat for his struggles late in games early in his tenure. Yet, the team showed improvement throughout the second half of last season.
The coach admitted that this area of the game is one he's improved in throughout his tenure.
"I think, man, there's always those (situations). When you get into those game situations over a two-year period, it's just in-game flow, understanding where you're at, the best approach," Campbell noted. "Sometimes what happens is — I'll give you an example — you kind of feel like you have the game in your hands. If you just back off a little bit, there's a real good chance your probability of winning goes way up. But, to do that means you're pulling off the reins a little bit, and that's hard.
"I think just figuring out what that flow is, us as a team but myself too, got much better, particularly the late half of that season last year. When we got in the fourth quarter, the ability to control the game and finish games out, I think was real big. That's something I feel like I've learned over a three-year period and gotten better at."
Gibbs more than a running back
The Lions made waves by selecting running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With running backs making headlines regarding their contract situations, Detroit's coach was asked about what prompted the team to select someone at the position so high.
"For a college player, we knew he was smart. He was very smart, and he was versatile. Those two things: You can see the athletic ability, everybody knows what he ran, you see what he runs, he's an explosive, fast athlete," the coach explained. "But, then you see a guy who can read the wide zones, he can run some downhill runs and he's a factor in the pass game. The routes out of the backfield, we think there's more to him potentially outside as kind of a slot, outside receiver, and he's smart. Because you can't do that unless he is smart."
The coach echoed a sentiment that has been shared regarding the Alabama product throughout the offseason -- Detroit truly believed that the running back was among the best prospects available.
"He was one of the best players in the draft," Campbell said. "This was not the strongest draft class or draft that there's been in a number of years, so we were all about, let's get the best players that we can get."
Explaining Grit
As the hosts do at the start of each "Grit Week" interview, Campbell was asked to define what "grit" means to him.
"Grit is, I think it's, when you have the ability to overcome adversity in any situation," the popular coach stated. "The ability to push through it, mentally, physically, to overcome. I think that's what grit is, in a nutshell."
