Dan Campbell
Head coach of the Detroit Lions, former NFL tight end.
Daniel Allen Campbell (born April 13, 1976) is an American professional football coach and former tight end who is the head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played in the NFL for 11 seasons. Campbell played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Detroit Lions.
Quick Facts
- Previous nfl teams
- New York Giants
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- New Orleans Saints
- College
- Texas A&M University
Lore & Background
After retiring as a player, Campbell pursued a coaching career and held his first head coaching position as the interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015. He was named the head coach of the Lions in 2021. In 2023, Campbell led the Lions to their first division title since 1993, their first playoff win since 1991, and their second ever NFC Championship Game appearance. The following year, under Campbell, the Lions clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time in their history.
Reader's Guide
Campbell was born in Meridian, Texas, and attended Glen Rose High School, where he was a tailback and tight end. He accepted a football scholarship from Texas A&M University. In his last two seasons, he shared the tight end position with Derrick Spiller. As a junior, he posted 12 receptions for 143 yards (11.9-yard average) and two touchdowns. He recorded 7 receptions for 68 yards, one touchdown and 3 special teams tackles. Campbell was selected by the New York Giants in the third round (79th overall) of the 1999 NFL draft. In 2000, he started four games and was a part of the team that appeared in Super Bowl XXXV. In 2001, he became the team's regular starting tight end after passing Howard Cross on the depth chart and was mainly used as a blocking tight end. Campbell was one of the first free agents to sign with the Dallas Cowboys after Bill Parcells was named the head coach in 2003. He quickly became a team leader and although Jason Witten emerged as the main tight end, Campbell still served as a mentor and remained a key blocker on the offensive line. In 2004, he only played in three games because of torn ligaments in his foot and was placed on the injured reserve list on September 30. In 2005, he recovered from an appendectomy on July 27, missing only 10 days of practice and returned to start all four preseason games. The team employed two-tight end sets, which allowed him to start 12 games alongside Witten. On March 14, 2006, Campbell was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions. Known mostly as a blocking tight end, he posted career-highs in receiving yards (308), average per reception (14.7 avg), long reception (30 yards), and touchdowns (four), the most by a Lions tight end since 2001. On September 22, 2007, he was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury. On September 9, 2008, he was again placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was released on February 9, 2009. On February 26, 2009, Campbell signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints, reuniting with head coach Sean Payton, who was his offensive coordinator with the Cowboys and the Giants. On August 10, he was placed on injured reserve with an MCL injury he suffered in training camp. He spent the entire season on injured reserve and chose to spend his rehab at his home in Texas.
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