In 2021, the Detroit Lions named Dan Campbell the franchise's new head coach. Campbell possesses 25 years of NFL experience, including 14 years as a coach and 11 as a player. In his first year as the Lions' head coach, Campbell helped instill a new culture built on grit, conviction, and collaboration on and off the field. Upon arrival, Campbell assembled a proven coaching staff comprised of several former NFL players that have brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to Detroit's roster. Building on his experiences, Campbell has also become a recognized speaker in motivational and leadership topics, focusing on themes such as "Coaching," "Leadership," "Motivation," and especially "Teamwork," providing strategic tools for improving teamwork in high-performing environments.
Prior to becoming the head coach in Detroit, Campbell served as the assistant head coach/tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 – 2020. During the span of his five-year coaching tenure with New Orleans, the club captured four NFC South division titles, ranked first in the NFL in points scored (2,361), touchdowns (277), net yardage (31,147) and posted the third-most wins (56) in the League. His accomplishments include transforming the grit and determination from the football field into actionable strategies for success in the corporate world, impacting themes of "Impact Leadership," "Inclusive Leadership," and "Influential Leadership" through his keynote speeches.
In 2015, Campbell served as the Miami Dolphins' interim head coach following organizational changes, where he took over a 1-3 team that had lost three consecutive contests and immediately helped the team win its first two games under his leadership. The Dolphins finished 5-7 under Campbell that season, including a 20-10 win over the New England Patriots in the season finale. Under Campbell, Miami improved eight spots in the NFL's rushing yards per game rankings and saw five Dolphins selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015. Additionally, QB Ryan Tannehill became the first Dolphins signal-caller to pass for at least 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons since Dan Marino (1984-86). Prior to taking over interim duties with the Dolphins, Campbell was responsible for mentoring Miami's tight ends unit dating back to 2011, after initially joining the Dolphins in 2010 as a coaching intern.
Campbell entered the NFL coaching ranks following an 11-year playing career with the New York Giants (1999-2002), Dallas Cowboys (2003-05), Detroit Lions (2006-08) and New Orleans Saints (2009). A third-round selection by the Giants in the 1999 NFL Draft, the former tight end appeared in 114 total career games (76 starts) and caught 91 passes for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a member of the Giants team that appeared in Super Bowl XXXV following the 2001 season. In his first year as a player with the Lions in 2006, Campbell posted career-highs in receiving yards (308), yards per reception (14.7) and touchdowns (four). As the 28th head coach in franchise history, Campbell is also the fifth former Lions player to be named full-time head coach for the team and the first since Joe Schmidt, who played for Detroit from 1953-65 and served as head coach from 1967-72. A Clifton, Texas native, Campbell attended Texas A&M, where he was a four-year letterman for the Aggies and majored in agricultural development. Campbell and his wife, Holly, have a son, Cody, and a daughter, Piper.
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