The NFL revealed the finalists for several season awards on Wednesday and the Detroit Lions were well-represented. Aidan Hutchinson is one of three finalists for defensive rookie of the year, while offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is in the finalist trio for assistant coach of the year.
There’s a notable omission, however. Head coach Dan Campbell is not one of the three finalists for the coach of the year. Campbell didn’t even make the cut to the final five.
While Campbell himself admitted during the Manning Cast in wild card weekend that he didn’t think he deserved to be the coach of the year, many fans, analysts and players disagree. The outrage over Campbell’s snub spread like wildfire across social media.
The Lions and Dan Campbell finished +33 in points margin against 4/5 of the Coach of the Year finalist pic.twitter.com/bptWGnGoYk
— Honolulu Blues (@HonoluluBlues_) January 25, 2023
This is coaching. pic.twitter.com/ayka2Xg691
— Brendan Thompson, PT, DPT (@BrendanThompsn) January 18, 2023
Again, you’re telling Dan Campbell is not a coach of the year candidate? https://t.co/5Rc9N3C475
— Mike Payton (@POD_Payton) January 25, 2023
What a joke to not have Dan Campbell on this list. The man lifted the Detroit Lions and made them into a respected franchise that players actually want to be associated with.
Analysts don’t pay enough respect to coaches who change losing franchises into legit contenders.
— srburris (@srburris) January 25, 2023
Why isn’t Dan Campbell a finalist? Coaching a team that was already supposed to be good and being a finalist makes as much sense as Ja Morant winning Rookie of the Year and then Most Improved the following year..#OnePride https://t.co/UjL2ejENWH
— Danny Bennett (@RealDannyB) January 25, 2023
Dan Campbell snubbed. Changing a historically toxic culture caused by so much losing to a team that players make public pleas to be brought back to is an incredible accomplishment. He wins next year after the Lions make a deep playoff run or we riot https://t.co/dVSTCWxrxe
— Kellie Rowe (@kellierowe) January 25, 2023
Dan Campbell got robbed. https://t.co/I3W0kcmKDD
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 25, 2023
No Dan Campbell 🫤🫤 https://t.co/cuMWAqzkIo
— Jerry Jacobs (@_luhjerry) January 25, 2023
