Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has long been known for his ability to connect with players, but his former teammate Tony Romo recalled a crazy story from their time together with the Dallas Cowboys.

While appearing on the podcast, Pardon My Take, Tony Romo explained that he was a young rookie who looked up to the Dallas captain and veteran tight end.

The two went out one evening, and Campbell was smoking a cigarette when he suddenly decided to mess with his younger teammate. According to Romo, Campbell unexpectedly pressed the lit cigarette against his hand, leaving the rookie stunned by the bizarre prank.

Despite the incident, Romo clearly had no lasting hard feelings toward Campbell and spoke highly of the impact he had on those around him.

"You just love him. He's the ultimate culture creator. That's Dan. He is a leader of men," Romo said.

The story offers a hilarious glimpse at Campbell's personality long before he became the Lions' head coach.

Dan Campbell was the team’s captain despite not being a starter

Dan Campbell had earned the respect of his Cowboys teammates enough to become a captain despite not being the team's starting tight end.

That role belonged to Jason Witten, who was already an incredible player at the position. Campbell's value, however, went beyond his role on the depth chart.

His leadership and personality made him an important locker-room presence, particularly for young players like Tony Romo.

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Sayantan