Detroit Lions coaching rumors: Getting to know front-runner Dan Campbell
By Bob Heyrman
I am concerned about the relationship between the potential head coach and the general manager when it comes to the Detroit Lions.
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Campbell is clearly not Holmes’ hire; it’s more of a fixed marriage between the two. We’ve seen a similar situation in Detroit recently with head coach Jim Caldwell retaining his position after the organization replaced Martin Mayhew with Bob Quinn.
By all accounts, it was the Detroit Lions ownership retaining Caldwell, not Quinn. Quinn got his way a couple of years later, though, when he’d make his only head coaching hire during his five-year tenure as Lions’ GM.
I understand it was likely one of the primary focuses’ during the interview process with Holmes that the organization, perhaps Chris Spielman, preferred Campbell to be the next head coach, and Holmes defiantly signed off on the notion, or he wouldn’t have accepted the job.
I want to add one more thing.
When Detroit Lions’ principal owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, addressed the media after firing Quinn and Patricia, she claimed the organization would take their time before rushing to find replacements. Ownership promised to do a thorough search and preferred the next GM and head coach to have experience.
Well, the Detroit Lions did, in fact, conduct a long search, but apparently, that experience thing is thrown out the window. Holmes has never been a general manager, and if Campbell is indeed the head coach, it comes with minimal head coaching experience.
I’m not against the Detroit Lions hiring Campbell, but my first choice had been Robert Saleh. After Saleh chose to sign with the New York Jets, I assumed Marvin Lewis would be the teams’ top target due to Sheila’s initial requirements.
I will support Campbell if he’s hired.
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I won’t sulk; whoever is hired deserves a chance to succeed, and this fan base should wipe the slate clean and try to look at things with an open mind. We can’t judge the decision until we see the on-field results. That’s when we can either further support the hire or begin to second-guess the choice.