NFL Insider Warns Dan Campbell Over Lions Future Following Latest Results
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine Feb 25, 2025 Indianapolis, IN, USA Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Indianapolis Scouting Combine Indiana United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250225_jhp_al2_0352
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine Feb 25, 2025 Indianapolis, IN, USA Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Indianapolis Scouting Combine Indiana United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250225_jhp_al2_0352
An insider's warning has put Dan Campbell's future in the spotlight.
Following a disappointing 9-8 season, the Detroit Lions' head coach is facing new pressure as Mike Payton of A to Z Sports believes an offseason decision may be shortening his leash.
"I’m not saying that if this doesn’t work out in 2026, Dan Campbell will be fired. That’s probably not happening right away. What I am saying is that the trust he’s built will begin to fade. The leash will get shorter, and the seat will begin to get hot," wrote Payton.
But it isn't particularly because this season was bad. It is because of one decision he and the Lions made for the 2026 season.
They have hired Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator. Petzing enters his 14th NFL season, having recently served as quarterbacks coach (2022) and tight ends coach (2020-21) for the Cleveland Browns, which is a point of concern.
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 27: Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell checking out his squad prior to the game between Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions on November 27, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI /CSM Detroit United States - ZUMAc04_ 20251127_zma_c04_002 Copyright: xAllanxDranbergx
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 27: Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell checking out his squad prior to the game between Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions on November 27, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI /CSM Detroit United States - ZUMAc04_ 20251127_zma_c04_002 Copyright: xAllanxDranbergx
The Browns are called the graveyard of quarterbacks for a reason. Petzing has not helped them get rid of that tag. As a matter of fact, Deshaun Watson's career only went downhill after the Texans traded him to the Browns in 2022.
Plus, rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both failed miserably in the 2025 season as the Browns finished 5-12. Even when he was the tight ends coach, none of the Browns' TEs ranked among the top 25 in receptions.
The NFL analyst believes that if Drew Petzing fails, the fans won't be very forgiving towards him.
Dan Campbell Wants to Go Back to the Old Ways
One of the most intriguing elements of Campbell’s end-of-season press conference was his desire for the team to function more like it did in previous years.
“I want to get back to some of the things we were doing a couple of years ago. And what I mean by that is just getting back to a little bit of what we did at the ground level, just a little bit of the way we train, the way we go about things,” Dan Campbell said.
“This is going to be a good training camp for us. We’re going to go back and really sharpen the sword a little bit. And I know that’s a ways off, but I think that’s the big thing," he added.
The Lions hired Dan Campbell as the head coach on January 20, 2021. After initial failure, he led the Lions to a 12-5 record, their first division title since 1993, and the franchise’s first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991 in 2023.
Then again, in 2024, the Lions had a historic 15-2 regular-season record, breaking the franchise record for wins and earning their first No. 1 seed in team history.
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Written by
Reyansh Dubey
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi