Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell doesn’t always make the correct decision. But when he believes he’s right, he’ll stand behind the choice. Perhaps more surprisingly, he also respects the media’s role in challenging him.
Campbell made his weekly appearance on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket morning show with Mike Stone and Jim Costa, and the Lions’ controversial two-point conversion attempt at the end of Week 17’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys was a natural topic of discussion.
Costa, in particular, wanted to know Campbell’s thought process in attempting another two-point play–this one from the seven-yard line–after the first try was wiped out by a controversial ineligible receiver penalty.
The Lions coach insisted that he wanted to go for the win, not the tie, no matter what. But Campbell felt that Costa was being polite, rather than saying what he wanted to say, and demanded that the hosts criticize him if that’s what they truly felt.
Sound on 🔊
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 3, 2024
Dan Campbell was as authentic as ever in this radio segment.
"Say it how you'd say it to anybody else. I'm on the radio."pic.twitter.com/1mBpG4hM7y
“Say it. Go ahead and say it. Both of you,” Campbell said. “Say it. Say what you wanna say.”
Costa then acknowledged that he thought Campbell opted for a low-percentage play in attempting a two-point conversion from the seven-yard line and should have opted to kick an extra point instead.
“Say it like you would say to anybody else,” Campbell responded. “I’m on the radio; say it like you wanna say it.”
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Costa then said Campbell made a reckless decision. Getting the honest answer he wanted, Campbell said, “Thank you.”
The Lions coach has won respect among the Detroit press corps and national media for his candor and empathy for reporters doing their jobs. But as he showed here (and after last Saturday’s result), Campbell has no tolerance for b.s. Costa later praised Campbell on social media for being “real.”
That was a very real radio moment.
