Over the past three seasons, Lions head coach Dan Campbell has consistently been in the discussion and received votes for NFL Coach of the Year honors. \u00a0This year, no one is more deserving.<\/p>\r\n
The NFL\u00a0Coach Of The Year<\/a> (COTY) is awarded<\/a> to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal.<\/p>\r\n Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell<\/a> is the current front-runner for the award. \u00a0The 12-2 Vikings have secured a playoff berth and O’Connell has done a magnificent job resurrecting quarterback Sam Darnold’s career. He has NFL journeyman Darnold playing at an elite level. \u00a0But as impressive a job as O’Connell has done, Dan Campbell<\/a> is even more deserving. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n After coming within 30 minutes of a Super Bowl appearance last year, the Detroit Lions were projected to be a Super Bowl contender before the 2024 season began. Everyone expected this team to be great. Entering the year with a target on their back, the Lions were given one of the tougher schedules in addition to several prime-time appearances. \u00a0Everyone was eager to see if the Lions would live up to the hype.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Campbell had a dream roster of healthy young players at the peak of their careers heading into the 2024 season. The Detroit lineup boasts some of the most elite players<\/a> at every position.\u00a0Quarterback Jared Goff<\/a> has been outstanding this year leading the NFL in most metrics. David Montgomery<\/a> and Jahmyr Gibbs comprise the NFL’s best running-back duo. Amon-Ra St. Brown is among the league’s most talented and reliable wide receivers. It’s easy for a head coach to look good when you have a roster overflowing with talent. Detroit’s locker room is filled with enormous talent, but that doesn’t generate votes for COTY. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n However, building a winning team requires more than talent. \u00a0The coach’s job is to set the tone, create a winning culture<\/a>, and establish a rock-solid foundation.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n When the Lions missed out on the Super Bowl last year, there was an enormous sense of loss and the team felt they’d let their fans down.\u00a0 The prize was so close. \u00a0It was within reach, and then cruelly snatched away at the last second.<\/p>\r\n But Campbell spun that disappointment and pain into the ultimate motivation for the team to do better this year. \u00a0Setting the tone, Campbell threw down the gauntlet. The team needed to do better. While they may have come up short last year, Campbell convinced them the Lions’ Super Bowl drought was over. At long last, a Championship title was their destiny and 2024 would be the year. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n The season began as expected with the Lions winning close games against some of the NFL’s toughest opponents. \u00a0The team closed out the month of September with three wins and one loss. \u00a0The Lions came off their early bye week to face the Dallas Cowboys<\/a> on the road.<\/p>\r\nLions Projected to Be A Front Runner<\/h3>\r\n
How Campbell Set The Lions Up for Success<\/h3>\r\n