Prior to the start of the 2022 NFL regular season, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions were featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks, and it did not take long for them to gain quite a few fans. In fact, heading into the season, many’ experts’ predicted the Lions would make a run at a playoff spot. But, when the Lions got off to a 1-6 start, some fans and ‘experts’ suggested that Campbell could lose his job. One person who would have laughed at those people is Lions’ GM, Brad Holmes.
What did Brad Holmes say about Dan Campbell?
During his end-of-the-year press conference, Holmes was asked about Campbell, and he explained Campbell’s “elite ability.”
“I think Dan – he’s special, he’s elite,” Holmes said this week. “I will say what Dan can do, and I don’t know if all coaches have, he has an elite ability to pull a team out of a dark place, and whether it’s from a record standpoint, whether it’s something from he has to make a tough decision on the staff. Like, it’s proven. Proof’s in the puddling.”
Holmes also talked about how Campbell has already had to make some very tough coaching decisions over their first two seasons with the Lions, including firing and replacing two of his coaches.
“He had to make a tough decision on the staff last year, a decision I know he didn’t want but he had to, and he knew he had to,” Holmes said.
“He’s going to do what it takes for the team,” Holmes said. “He had to do it again this year, it was at 1-6, and he just has a rare, elite ability to pull a team out and right the ship. And when you have that, I think that’s just – it’s God given, and you just either have it or don’t, and he has that, and that’s one of the many qualities that I think makes him an elite coach.”
There is no question about it that Holmes loves Campbell!
