Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis is the latest player to publicly express his admiration for head coach Dan Campbell.
On the ‘Slightly Decent’ podcast, the 28-year-old cornerback explained why Campbell has emerged as one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Campbell may be distinguished from his contemporaries by the amount of relatability and accountability he demands of all players. Davis stated this during his interview with the host panel, which included former Lion Saivion Smith and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vernon Hargreaves.
Several members of the Lions’ roster have publicly stated that Campbell is relatable and willing to share his emotions with the entire squad.
“He went into the changing room. Brother, he was crying. He was like, ‘blame your coach.’ He was basically like, “Blame your coach.” You can blame me. “You can blame me,” Davis replied. “He accepted full accountability. In my, what, 20 years of playing football, I have never heard a coach say, ‘I lost the game for y’all. And there were lots of other plays that players could have made.
Campbell has never shied away from accepting blame when the team does not perform as expected.
The popular head coach’s sincerity and desire to applaud players for their performance on the field have made him a figure for which many players want to compete.
“Dan is the type of guy who talks to you almost every day, whether it’s at practice or just strolling through the locker room. He genuinely sat me down and did this a couple of times over the season, when I had a strong game, and he’d come up to me and say, ‘Boy, you’re playing your ass off.’ “He’ll just say that to you,” Davis stated. “After the game, it was like, ‘Boy, you’re more than just a cover corner. You, too, are corporeal! And he will say this in front of the entire team. He will laud you in front of the entire squad. “That’s the first time a coach has done that.”
Several behind-the-scenes recordings have emerged, revealing what the popular head coach looks for in players. One had Campbell complimenting wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown for blocking down the field late in a game the Lions would not win.
Davis stated that not all coaches are willing to acknowledge players’ underappreciated efforts in front of the entire squad during meetings.
“Not just for me, but for the other players. He emphasizes, ‘This guy is going insane.’ St. Brown blocking. St. Brown will block the s**t out of someone, but that will fly under the radar. “No one’s glorifying that,” Davis added. “But he’s glorifying it in front of the squad, saying, ‘This is what I’m talking about!’ So you know when you’re doing s**t; he’s watching everything. But he will also give you your flowers. Many coaches don’t do it.
Because of his affection for Campbell, the veteran defensive back may decide to return in free agency.
“He’s the real one. He is my favourite head coach. Davis stated, “I’m not going to lie, that’s who I played for.” “That’s why I was out there trying to break my jaw for him.”
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