Since becoming head coach of the Lions, Dan Campbell has transformed the team into a perennial contender. Few people know Campbell better than Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. The two have crossed paths multiple times, first as players and then later as coaches.

When Payton was on the Trey Wingo Network, he reflected on his long relationship with Campbell and explained why players have consistently responded to the Lions coach. He attributed it to one key trait that Campbell possesses.

“You knew exactly what you were getting, refreshingly honest,” said Payton. “I love Dan, and I had the good fortune of being with Dan when we drafted him at the Giants. I was a coordinator, and then he joined us at the Cowboys and eventually the Saints as a coach.”

Payton talked about how he had a strong feeling players would gravitate towards Campbell during their time in New Orleans.

“I felt that way about Dan once he joined our staff. There are players you coach that you’ll think, ‘Hey, this guy is going to be a heck of a coach, if he chooses to’.”

Payton also revealed that he had wanted Dan to be part of his staff for a long time before finally getting the opportunity.

“When he chose to get into coaching, there were a number of years I tried to snag him from Miami, but I couldn’t, because he was under contract.”

Payton and Campbell had a successful time together as they won 4 back-to-back NFC South division titles from 2017 to 2020. Since Campbell left to become the Lions' head coach, they have faced each other once in December 2023 when the Lions beat the Broncos 42-17.

Payton Reacts To Campbell’s Comments On OTAs

Recently, Campbell made a comment about the OTAs, which raised eyebrows. The comment was about him not wanting people to fuss too much about players performing without pads.

Payton revealed during the interview how Campbell probably was not somebody who liked the OTAs too much, even as a player, and his initial reaction to the comments.

“He was a trench blocking, blocking tight end, physical. I'm sure he hated this time of the year because everything he did well was not defined in OTAs. I saw his comments, and I chuckled.”

Campbell previously stated on the Green Light Podcast how a lot of who he is as a coach comes from the 12 years he had with Payton.

“I think most of who I am is from Sean (Payton) because I played for him 7 years and 5 years as a coach, and so much of what I’ve taken is from him.”

Do you think Campbell and the Lions will have a better season than Payton and the Broncos or vice versa? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi