After a 9-8 season, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is taking a ‘strictly business’ approach. While addressing the locker room, he set his expectations clear in a strong message.

During the Lions' third day of OTAs press conference on May 29, Campbell avoided setting any lofty expectations for the upcoming season. It's about sticking to the basics.

“It’s just a little bit, let’s get back to that, man,” Campbell said. “Let’s just get back to the business of what it is. It’s about football first and foremost, and it’s about the guy next to you. That’s it.”

The Lions were placed last in the NFC North division after winning back-to-back division titles in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Last season, they missed the playoffs, despite ranking No. 5 in the overall offense in the league, with 28.3 points per game (at No. 4) and 373.2 total yards per game.

According to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, the offensive struggles were one of the major reasons that cost the Lions their playoff chances. 

Though there are other factors like injuries to the offensive line and tight end room, the lack of viable solutions or depth in key positions contributed to the season’s downfall.

So moving into 2026, Campbell warned the players about becoming distracted by fame and success.

“Just getting back to a little bit of the no-nonsense,” he reminded them how the Lions became contenders because they stayed focused. “But then the better you do, the more hype, this player gets paid, this coach, this whatever. It’s all this other stuff that has nothing to do with what got us to that point that gave everybody - we all reaped the benefits of that.”

Determined to learn from its shortcomings, the team spent the offseason scrutinizing every aspect of its operation. General manager Brad Holmes even skipped the owners' meetings to devote his time to focus on the draft.

The Lions made significant changes to the team during the offseason to rectify issues and fill roster gaps from the previous season.

One notable offseason move was the cancellation of the rookie minicamp, and Campbell shared the reason behind this move.

Why Detroit Opted Out of Rookie Minicamp in 2026 

Campbell believes that the minicamp offers little training to the players and is more about familiarizing the rookies with the coaches' schemes and the NFL’s intense training

“It’s good you get them acclimated; you get them on the field,” Campbell said to the media on Day 3 of the OTA session. “But it’s not worth it anymore. It’s the same way every year, they train for the Combine or for all of those drills, they don’t train for football.” 

While many rookies fall sick or risk injury during such camps, the Lions decided to cancel the minicamp, allowing them to join the OTAs directly. 

The move reflects a broader strategy to keep a low-key offseason, avoiding any hype and prioritizing players' health ahead of the 2026 season. 

According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football, the Lions are one of the five franchises to have the easiest schedule this season.

So, will Campbell's ‘no-nonsense’ approach help Detroit to find its rhythm back? Share your thoughts.

Read more at Detroit Lions Community.

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar