Dan Campbell is one of the most popular NFL coaches around the league. He’s certainly got a tremendously high approval rating in Detroit and amongst the Lions fan base. Leading a franchise to the first NFC North division title and breaking a playoff drought of over 30 years will do that for a coach.
But when the Lions hired Campbell back in 2021, he was not a universally popular choice. In fact, Campbell wasn’t the desired coach of a significant portion fo the fan base. Or the local government, either.
Many wanted Robert Saleh, a Detroit-area (Dearborn) native who had been the very successful defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers at that time. Saleh was a very popular and accomplished candidate, one supported by the Michigan legislature at the time. He was a primary choice for the gig.
The Lions ultimately chose Dan Campbell, and we are grateful for that decision. Saleh wound up landing the New York Jets head coaching position. It did not go particularly well in New York for Saleh, for a barrage of reasons. Now he’s back looking for his next job after the Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday after the team lost in London to the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
Saleh finished his Jets coaching career with a 20-36 record and failed to record a winning season. Campbell, meanwhile, is 27-27-1 but has gone 24-14 since his first season.