Despite guiding the Detroit Lions to unprecedented success, head coach Dan Campbell was once again left without recognition at the NFL Honors ceremony. Despite being a finalist for Coach of the Year, Campbell finished second, losing to Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. Other finalists included Denver’s Sean Payton, Washington’s Dan Quinn, and Kansas City’s Andy Reid, who is preparing for Super Bowl 59. This marks the second consecutive year Campbell was a finalist but didn’t win.
While all finalists had impressive seasons, Campbell’s case for the award is strong. Under his leadership, the Lions reached a franchise-best 15-2 record and secured the NFC’s top seed, marking their second straight division title. The team became the fourth-highest-scoring offense in NFL history and set numerous franchise records. Even with significant injuries to key players, such as Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, and others, the defense made crucial plays, highlighted by Kerby Joseph leading the league in interceptions. Despite these challenges, the Lions’ success seemed to place Campbell as a strong contender for Coach of the Year. However, O’Connell’s leadership, which included guiding the Vikings to a 14-3 record and overcoming various obstacles, earned him the honor.
Campbell wasn’t the only Lion to fall short at the NFL Honors ceremony. Quarterback Jared Goff, who was a finalist for MVP, finished fifth in voting, with Buffalo’s Josh Allen ultimately winning the award. Goff had an outstanding season, ranking second in passing yards (4,629), leading in completion percentage (72.4%), fourth in touchdowns (37), and second in passer rating (111.8%). Despite these impressive numbers, his performance in Week 10 against the Houston Texans — where he threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns but also had five interceptions — weighed heavily against him. However, Goff rebounded in the second half of the season, throwing 21 touchdowns with only three interceptions over the final eight games, solidifying his first-ever MVP nomination.
