In a very serious game like football, Dan Campbell continues to be a breath of fresh air. The earnest Lions coach has already built a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve. (For example, his affinity for kneecap-biting, or when he teased a reporter for letting his phone go off in a press conference.)
On Saturday, as the Lions prepared to give the hometown Ford Field crowd a little practice show during camp, Campbell’s energy for the game showed out again. Yes — he made another amazing predator analogy because lions and hyenas and you get it.
Campbell grabs the mic: “We’re starving. So the hyenas better get out of the way.” pic.twitter.com/NjqsqpbFlV
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) August 6, 2022
Dan Campbell to the fans before the Lions’ open practice at Ford field: “We are fricking starving … so the hyenas better get out of the way.”
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 6, 2022
I have no way to verify this, but Campbell has to be the first NFL coach in recent memory to really lean into the use of his team’s nickname and mascot. Given how bad the Lions have been for years, someone like Campbell trying to make them a little more intimidating is a bit overdue.
If that means relating the football version of the Lions to their very, very distant cousin kings-of-the-jungle/apex predators, then so be it. Campbell knows what he’s doing. I, for one, hope we hear more about “hyenas” and “hunting prey” and “food chains” in relation to football in the near future.
NFL fans loved hearing another Campbell apex predator analogy
Oh my god https://t.co/JbXAFcIwX2
— Lou Sanus (@MotorCityKATZ69) August 6, 2022
https://t.co/XvMRSm0KFk pic.twitter.com/3dwHvZDlc7
— Ian Burleigh (@IanBurleigh2) August 6, 2022
Alright, ready to run through a wall again 😤 https://t.co/Z1COXoN7f8
— Señor Uke (@LukeRoach15) August 6, 2022
Let’s gooooooo!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/fglOLYijVc
— Travis Mulhauser (@portislives) August 6, 2022
I don’t want any other coach… ever https://t.co/0LOPJfrNSs
— Thomas Ulicki (@ThomasUlicki) August 6, 2022
This guy is a freak 🤣🤣🤣 i love it https://t.co/e1ulUeXBUq
— Preszn Staff👀 (@itsMrCorey) August 6, 2022
LFG!!! https://t.co/K8E2dDckw9 pic.twitter.com/JZBA1pxjWY
— Detroit Lions Watch (@DetLionsWatch) August 6, 2022
https://t.co/sQZhEjXStU pic.twitter.com/cIvggaMxZr
— James Thorne (@jamesthorne93) August 6, 2022
Find me a gd wall to run through 😤 https://t.co/MwTVXsmUqo
— Jordan Witt (@J_Witt7) August 6, 2022
I’m starting to think Campbell has confused himself with Mufasa https://t.co/MaFU1UuUJ7
— Jake (@jakestaysonline) August 6, 2022
THIS TEAM https://t.co/4CNqEwoTHG
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) August 6, 2022
Add it to the ever-growing mountain of Hard Knocks content: https://t.co/oTPwKFbtWu
— Mike Foss (@MikeFossWXYZ) August 6, 2022
