Dan Campbell was a finalist for NFL Coach of the Year as judged by the media, and he's one of the best coaches in the league according to the players.
Campbell was one of three head coaches to receive an A+ in this year's NFLPA report card, which was voted on by more than 1,700 active players -- or more than three-quarters of the league. Only Andy Reid of the Chiefs and Kevin O'Connell of the Vikings earned higher overall head coaching grades.
The NFLPA report card noted that the "players clearly enjoy working for" Campbell, who led the Lions to their first division title in 30 years and to their second ever NFC title game, "with respondents calling out his willingness to listen to their locker room." Campbell, who played in the NFL for 10 years, said Tuesday that he can relate to his players because he's "been in their shoes in different situations."
"In training camp after two or three weeks of practice, you understand what that’s like. You understand after the game, you understand disappointment. You understand on a whole different level when you don’t have a good game or the media is on you or the fans are on you. You understand the pressures of it, the lifestyle of it, and I think that helps you understand where they’re at, too," Campbell said.
"You can deal with them on much more of a psychological level than just X’s and O’s, and personal. You just know what that’s like. And I think by the way you talk to them, by the way you handle them, you can relate to them in that regard."
The NFLPA report also noted that "the Lions hired a new training staff this offseason, and the players noted in the responses that they could feel the improvement at the workplace and received significantly more individualized care this season compared to last season."
Under the direction of new head athletic trainer Mike Sundeen, who was hired last spring from the Broncos, the Lions' training room grade jumped from D+ to B this season. And their food service/nutrition grade jumped from D- to C/C+, "with players noting that the food tastes better and fresher. They still hope to see another jump going into next year, as food service remains the number one issue players would like to see upgraded."
The Lions ranked 13th overall as an organization, also earning high marks for their strength coaches (A-) and weight room (B+). Ownership, under Sheila Ford Hamp, got a B-. The full report card is below.
The Dolphins, Vikings and Packers were rated the top three organizations, in that order, while the Commanders were the worst.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who beat out Campbell for AP Coach of the Year, got a B- and Texas head coach DeMeco Ryans, who also finished ahead of Campbell in Coach of the Year voting, got an A-.
