Lions HC Dan Campbell Issues Stern Warning After Sloppy Hall of Fame Game Performance

The Lions kicked things off in the worst possible way, fumbling on the opening kickoff. That early mistake set the tone for a game marred by turnovers and sloppy execution. In total, Detroit gave the ball away five times, leading to a lopsided 34-7 defeat.

Campbell, clearly frustrated, had a blunt message for his players after the game.

“If you’re going to wear the Lions uniform, you need to take care of the football,” Campbell said. “If you can’t do that, it’s going to be tough to stay on this team.”

Detroit, coming off back-to-back NFC North titles, has much higher expectations this year — including a Super Bowl push. Although it’s only the preseason, Campbell made it clear that the standard in Detroit has changed, and carelessness won’t be tolerated.

Despite the disappointing loss, the belief in this team’s potential remains strong. But if players want to be part of the journey, Campbell expects much better execution — starting with protecting the football.