The recent decisions of former Detroit Lions players Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler to skip their new teams’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs) have sparked conversation—not just about their current teams, but about the culture they left behind in Detroit. Both players were active participants in the Lions’ offseason programs last year. Yet now, with Davis in New England and Zeitler in Tennessee, their absence from voluntary OTAs sends a subtle but powerful message about head coach Dan Campbell and the environment he has built in Detroit.
Dan Campbell has spent the past few seasons reshaping the Lions into a team known for toughness, accountability, and unity. Detroit’s rise from a struggling franchise to a playoff contender hasn’t just been about talent acquisition—it’s been about culture. That culture clearly made an impression on players like Davis and Zeitler, who chose to be fully present in Detroit’s offseason work. Their current absence from OTAs elsewhere could indicate a difference in motivation or buy-in with their new teams.
OTAs are technically voluntary, and many veterans often sit them out to preserve their bodies or negotiate contracts. Still, it’s notable that these players didn’t skip out when they were with the Lions. That speaks volumes about the influence Campbell and his coaching staff have on player engagement and team cohesion.
Meanwhile, the Lions are currently holding OTAs of their own with generally strong attendance. One notable absence is linebacker Alex Anzalone, reportedly sitting out due to contract discussions. However, the broader turnout from the rest of the roster reflects how Campbell’s leadership continues to resonate throughout the organization. Players want to be there. They buy into the system. And that kind of participation helps fuel the team’s growing success.
Ultimately, the absence of former Lions from their current OTAs is more than a routine offseason storyline. It illustrates a larger point about what Dan Campbell has created in Detroit: a culture where players are motivated to show up, even when they don’t have to. In a league where commitment and chemistry can make the difference between a good team and a great one, the Lions appear to be headed in the right direction—and that’s a credit to Campbell’s unwavering vision and the culture he’s instilled.
