Lions’ Dan Campbell Credits Giants for Shaping Team’s Grit Ahead of Playoffs

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, a former New York Giants tight end, credited his old team for helping prepare his squad for the rigors of the 2024 NFL season during joint practices last summer. The Lions, who finished with a franchise-best 15-2 record, are set to host the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday.

Campbell, who played for the Giants from 1999 to 2002, praised the intensity and energy the Giants brought to the joint practices. “That was the first real taste of kind of the perception, and I thought the Giants practiced hard, they brought it, there was a lot of energy, a lot of juice, and I thought that was good for us to get that,” Campbell told Lions beat reporters this week. “It’s like now you know what it’s going to be like all season.”

The Lions and Giants have held joint practices for two consecutive years, a tradition that began in 2023 when Detroit hosted New York ahead of a preseason game. Campbell and Giants head coach Brian Daboll share a professional history, having worked together on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff in 2011. Daboll served as the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, while Campbell was the tight ends coach under head coach Tony Sparano.

Campbell emphasized the importance of maintaining hunger and focus as the Lions enter the playoffs. “I think the most important thing is that it doesn’t matter where you’re at, where you’re seeded, how many wins you’ve had, you have to stay hungry, and our team is hungry,” he said.

The Lions’ 2024 season included setting a single-season franchise record with 13 wins, a testament to Campbell’s old-school coaching style. As they prepare to face the Commanders, Campbell promised a loud and challenging environment for the visiting team. “We handled it well, and I don’t feel like – we know that we’re going to get everybody’s best shot; we know that every week, and it doesn’t matter if it’s who we’ve played, what week it is, and our guys understand that,” he added.

With a bye week behind them, the Lions are poised to make a deep playoff run, fueled by the lessons learned from their joint practices with the Giants and Campbell’s relentless drive to keep his team focused on the ultimate goal.