When Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is impressed with a new or current roster piece, it isn't going to be a secret. One of the defining pieces of Campbell's tenure is the responsibility he puts on his shoulders to not just build his players on the field and in the locker room, but openly praise his players to the media.
While this is the case for most every head coach, it is important to note how Detroit's head coach always takes it a step further than the norm. The latest example of this is the praise of former Philadelphia Eagles corner Avonte Maddox.
Dan Campbell on Avonte Maddox:
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) August 3, 2025
• "Vet, man. A vet — a pro. He’s been there."
• Smart, aware, and understands how to play
• Aware of his own deficiencies and makes up for them by staying a step ahead
• Brings versatility — can play nickel, safety, special teams in a pinch, and…
Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell Praises Super Bowl Champ Avonte Maddox
Per Lions insider Al Karsten, the head coach called Maddox "a vet, a pro", who is "smart, aware, and understands how to play", while praising his versatility.
Maddox was a contributor on Philly's 2025 Super Bowl run, helping take down the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs. The corner filled a number of roles, having played with the Eagles since the 2018 season. This was pointed out by Campbell, who praised Maddox for his ability to play a myriad of positions. From this level of praise, it is fair to expect the veteran to play a key role in helping solidify Detroit's secondary. Looking ahead at the 2025 season, this does appear to be the biggest concern.
Looking back at the 2024 season, the biggest factors in Detroit's playoff downfall were injuries and struggles in the secondary. There was such incredible pressure on Jared Goff and the offense to go out and be perfect. The Lions' defense couldn't be relied on to get a single stop when it mattered most. Detroit's offense needed to be perfect due to the struggles defensively. This wasn't just due to injuries; if the Lions were going to be beaten, the path was taking advantage of questions in the secondary.
The Lions' first answer to this was bringing in D.J. Reed, who remains an underrated addition. The former New York Jet was an incredibly underrated contributor who was overshadowed by the stardom of Sauce Gardner. Bringing in Reed and Maddox is a great mix that gives the franchise reason to believe the secondary has been solidified.
With this in mind, Campbell's praise and excitement for the veteran make sense. The defensive-minded coach understands what a liability the secondary was at times and appears to believe these concerns have been addressed. Safety Brian Branch and corner D.J. Reed are more than enough to support this as the Lions continue to seek the first Super Bowl run in franchise history.