The Detroit Lions may be deep into preparations for the 2026 NFL season, but the locker-room chemistry between Jack Campbell and Jahmyr Gibbs continues to create viral moments off the field.

While addressing the NFL journalists in a post-contract extension presser, linebacker Jack Campbell took a lighthearted jab at the fellow 2023 NFL-drafted running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, while revisiting the old draft reactions, which rated Campbell’s draft as an F, per the 97.1 The Ticket. 

“Jahmyr’s probably seen everything. Every time I see him, he’s on his phone,” Campbell said. “At least he wasn’t the worst pick in the draft, he could probably be the second, maybe.”

In the same story, the Motor City’s RB Gibbs was rated as F/D+.

The joke immediately landed and gave the presser a laugh because the NFL community still remembers how harsh the reactions were on draft night. 

Back in time, the Motown team was heavily criticized for “over-drafting” Jahmyr Gibbs (Pick 12 overall) and Jack Campbell (Pick 18 overall) in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Many draft analysts went behind the Lions’ front office and labeled them for disrespecting the mock drafts.

But for the rookie talents, instead of folding to the criticism received, they proved them wrong by their performance on the gridiron. 

Per Pro Football Reference, RB Gibbs “Sonic” appeared in 49 games for the Lions and scored 39 TDs while covering 3,580 yards. 

Similarly, Campbell kept production consistent, he appeared in 51 games for the team and recorded 402 total tackles.

Recently, Campbell signed the first rookie extension for four years at $81M, which made him the second-highest-paid LB in the league. 

Now the speculation around Gibbs' contract extension is at its peak, which might make him the second-highest RB in the league. 

Jack Campbell Reveals His Priority Was to Be a Lion

Amid months of speculation surrounding his rookie contract extension, LB Jack Campbell made it clear that staying with the Detroit Lions was always his top priority, per Tim Twentyman of the Detroit Lions.

Post his long-term extension with the Lions, Campbell explained that the negotiations were never only about money for him. 

Instead, his focus was to remain on helping the Lions keep their core together while continuing the “GRIT” culture built under head coach Dan Campbell.

“But I just feel like for me, I knew what I wanted in this,” Campbell said. “I want to help the team in any way possible. Just to continue to keep the core together.”

The linebacker added that he believed the final deal worked fairly for both sides.

“At the end of the day, I feel like it was fair for the team and I'm more than happy with everything that they blessed me with,” Campbell said.

After all the extension chatter, Campbell got exactly what he wanted,  and he remained a Lion.

Read more at the Detroit Lions Community!

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker