How Dan Campbell Reacted to Being Labeled a 'Bust' Early in NFL Career

Early in his NFL playing career, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell discovered what a reporter had felt about his abilities.

Drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft, the New York Giants took a chance on a player known for his hustle and blocking abilities.

Ahead of the Lions' trip to face the Giants on the road, Campbell told ESPN, “I remember getting labeled as a bust by a reporter too early because I was a grunt. That’s really what I did best. I was a blocker."

The experience taught the then-young player how to handle the intense scrutiny that comes with playing in the NFL.

"It can affect you a little bit, but man, it doesn’t take long if you block that out and stay true to what your coaches are telling you," Campbell said.

As a result of the experiences he had throughout his playing career and as an assistant coach working his way up the ranks, Detroit's second-year head coach is fully equipped to handle the pressure needed to withstand criticisms from fans and the media.

Despite only winning three games his first year in Detroit, Campbell has stayed true to his coaching beliefs, and has relied on close confidants to navigate being the target of criticism when the Lions lose.

Campbell expressed, “This is still a business at the end of the day, and so for me, what I’ve learned over the years is I do know this, man, you can’t read all of it -- the good or the bad."