Dan Campbell, the anticipated front runner for Detroit Lions’ head coaching vacancy, won’t meet with the organization until Wednesday, as he is planning on holding exit interviews with New Orleans Saints’ players, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The meeting is anticipated to be only a formality, as both sides are expected to be finalizing a contract to make him their team’s next head coach.
Campbell is known as a high-character players coach, and as tight ends/assistant head coach, he potentially has several players to talk to, on each side of the ball.
It’s a classy move by Campbell and illustrates his efforts to put the players first and emphasizes how he cares for each of them.
“He’s a guy who played a long time,” Saints QB Drew Brees told ESPN’s Mike Triplett. “So he’s got a level of respect coming from guys for how he played — he’s a tough, physical guy. He just really cares about his players. You can see that in the way he talks to us, talks to his position group. He’s just got a lot of great leadership qualities in that way. And I think he’s just a good person.
“So you combine all those things, and then he’s a person that you want to follow. And a person you believe in and you know he’s gonna be honest with you.”
This is a stark contrast from the Lions’ last coach, Matt Patricia, who did care deeply for his players, but there were too often stories from former players who felt like they weren’t treated right and he prioritized himself first.
Stay tuned to Lions Wire, as we will have a lot more information on Campbell, including his press conference, once available.