Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has never shied away from admitting when he’s made a misstep. Known for his straightforward and humble demeanor, Campbell is quick to shoulder the blame when decisions don’t pan out. Fortunately for Detroit, most of his calls in recent years have been spot-on, helping guide the franchise to some of its most successful seasons in recent history.
The 2024-25 campaign was one to remember for the Lions, culminating in a playoff berth. However, their postseason run ended abruptly with a decisive loss to the Washington Commanders in the opening round. The dream of a deep playoff push — and potentially a Super Bowl appearance — was cut short.
In hindsight, Campbell has been candid about where he believes things went wrong. Speaking with WXYZ’s Brad Galli on August 11, he acknowledged that his priorities may have been misplaced.
Focusing on the Wrong Goal
Campbell explained that he poured too much energy into securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year and not enough into preparing for the challenges of playoff football.
“When I look back, I realize the emphasis needs to stay on winning the division and making sure we’re playing our best ball late in the season, like in Week 17, rather than in Week 1,” Campbell said. “If we do that — whether at home or on the road — we’ll be ready for the postseason battles.”
He admitted that the combination of a heavy focus on home-field advantage and a string of injuries may have caused the team to mentally relax after achieving one of their goals. “It was like, we hit a milestone, but the real prize is the Super Bowl,” Campbell added.
While no one can say for certain that this was the primary reason for their early exit, Campbell is clearly determined to avoid repeating the same mistake.
A Shift in Approach for 2025
The sting of the playoff loss to Washington still lingers for Campbell, who has spent the offseason questioning if his messaging set the team up for disappointment. “Did I unintentionally set the wrong tone?” he wondered. “We didn’t lose a road game last year — what if we had gone into the postseason needing to win away from home?”
For the upcoming season, Campbell says the focus is simple: win in any environment, under any conditions.
“We’ll play anywhere — home, road, grass, turf, in the elements. It doesn’t matter,” Campbell said. “Each game presents a new challenge, and the goal is to find a way to win.”
It’s clear Campbell has taken the time to reflect and adjust. Lions fans will be eager to see if his renewed mindset can propel the team deeper into the postseason this time around.
