New Lions head coach Dan Campbell: ‘We’re going to bite a kneecap off’
Jan 21, 2021, 12:26 PM
The newest head coach of the Detroit Lions made quite a stir during his colorful introductory press conference in the Motor City on Thursday.
Dan Campbell, who was hired to replace fired head coach Matt Patricia on Wednesday, told members of the media that the Lions would take on a quite violent teamwide disposition under his tutelage.
“We’re gonna kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we’re gonna get up. And on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.”
New @Lions HC Dan Campbell had quite the introductory press conference 😳 pic.twitter.com/cWJTSFtJAQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2021
“We’re gonna kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you,” Campbell said. “And when you knock us down, we’re gonna get up. And on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.”
Campbell’s background includes a 10-year playing career as a tight end with the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. That combined with his NFL assistant coaching roles give some credence to his statements on Thursday.
He last worked as the assistant head coach and coached tight ends under Sean Payton with the Saints, helping craft an offense that ranked among the NFL’s top-10 in passing yards per game each season between 2016 and 2019.
Only time will tell whether he can get his new cast of players to embrace his teeth-kicking persona, but for one day at least, Campbell fired up a lot of people on social media.
