Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has never been one to sugarcoat things, and on Tuesday, he owned up to one of his rare head-scratching moments from Monday night’s 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Play That Made No Sense
In the second quarter, Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was strip-sacked, and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs clearly recovered the ball about five yards short of the line to gain. The officials ruled it would be third-and-five for Tampa Bay, a straightforward call.
But then, confusion hit. The Lions challenged the ruling, with the official announcing that Detroit was contesting that Wirfs was down by contact short of the first down. That explanation didn’t exactly add up, and Campbell made sure to clear the air the next day.
Dan Campbell: ‘That Was Just Grasping for Straws’
When asked about the challenge, Campbell didn’t dodge responsibility.
“Yeah, that was a bad challenge. That was just a total mess-up on my part. That was me thinking that he was down at the fumble site, and that’s more grasping for straws. I shouldn’t have done that,” Campbell admitted. “Yeah. So, you were totally like, ‘What the hell is he doing?’ You’d be correct.”
That kind of honesty is classic Campbell, no excuses, just straight accountability. It’s also a rare self-own from a coach who has built his reputation on sharp in-game decisions and bold, fearless calls.
The Big Picture
The failed challenge ultimately didn’t matter. The Lions’ defense continued its domination, holding Mayfield and the Buccaneers to just nine points while forcing multiple turnovers. Still, Campbell’s candor reinforces what makes him so relatable to both players and fans: he treats mistakes like coaching moments, not scandals.
Detroit heads into the bye week at 5-2, confident, battle-tested, and, apparently, still willing to laugh at their own missteps.
