When Tracy Walker first came to the Detroit Lions, many believed he would emerge as a very good NFL safety. Unfortunately, Walker was forced to spend his first three seasons in the NFL with Matt Patricia, who had absolutely no clue how to develop the youngster.
But now, Dan Campbell is running the show and Walker is already in a better spot than he ever was with the old regime.
On Saturday, Campbell spoke to reporters and he praised Walker’s progression as a player before sharing a story about how he fined his safety on Friday for not coming through on a promise.
Campbell said that Walker came to him before Friday’s practice and told him that he was going to get an interception but then he failed to do so.
“He goes, ‘I promise, it’s coming,’” Campbell told reporters. “Well, he didn’t get one so I fined him. Last night in the team meeting I said, ‘I’m, fining you for that, fifty dollars, but I’m going to pay the fine.’ So I paid the fine, but he owes me two.”
Dan Campbell speaks on on Tracy Walker’s progression as a player. Points to him being a master communicator and shares a joke about Walker owing him money for not getting the interception he promised in practice. pic.twitter.com/KGK0L8FlEE
— Kory E. Woods (@KoryEWoods) July 31, 2021
Walker is becoming a leader on the Lions’ defense and he gives Campbell credit for believing in him.
“I feel great,” Walker said. “I’m allowed to be a leader, I’m allowed to speak, voice my opinions and like I said, whether I’m right or wrong I’m always going to be able to speak my mind. I think that’s the best thing about it and I get to have fun. I feel like, it’s an understatement when everybody says it but, man, that’s the main thing about football. This is a child’s game and we’re blessed to be able to come out here and play this game the way we do. I love being out and having fun, enjoying it and competing.”
Campbell believes that leadership is a great quality for a safety to have and Walker has it.
“He’s been outstanding,” Campbell said. “You can just see the secondary beginning to grow. You can. They’re starting to figure this thing out, they’re starting to mesh.”
Dan Campbell has not been the Lions’ head coach for very long but he is already making a difference.
