On Wednesday, CBS Sports reported (we passed it along as a rumor) that the Detroit Lions did not get their first choice when they hired Dan Campbell to be their head coach. Instead, the report was that the Lions not only wanted Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell to lead their team but that they offered him an 8-year, $68.5 contract, which he turned down.
Well, according to a report from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, not only was Dan Campbell the Lions’ top choice for the job but that the team never made Matt Campbell an offer at all.
From Detroit Free Press:
The Detroit Lions did not swing and miss on Matt Campbell in their winter coaching search because they did not swing at all.
CBS Sports reported Wednesday that Campbell, the well-respected Iowa State coach, turned down an eight-year, $68.5 million offer to coach the Lions and perhaps take full control of the organization.
But a Lions source with knowledge of the team’s search process said Friday no offer was made to Campbell, and that the Lions got the No. 1 candidate on their list: Former New Orleans Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell.
Now, to be fair, Birkett’s source comes from within the Lions’ organization and I would expect for them to say exactly what they said, whether or not they really made Matt Campbell an offer or not.
The truth shall set you free!
