Indianapolis — The Detroit Lions scored 13th out of 32 clubs in an NFL Players Association study of workplace conditions, a minor improvement from the previous year after placing favorably in one new category.
The Lions were one of three teams to receive an A-plus in the head coach category, along with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.
“The guys love him,” NFLPA President JC Tretter stated. “There were a lot of guys who wrote open-ended responses about how important he is to them, how much he leads them, and how much they enjoy playing for him. So it’s always intriguing to see how the guys interact and how much their expertise matters. I believe Dan’s background as a former player helps him there because he understands what the boys are going through, can push them, and is very collaborative.
Tretter stated that players were asked to evaluate coaches based on workplace conditions such as their efficiency with players’ time, desire to contribute, and open discussion.
“It’s not how great of a football mind, are they going to win games,” he went on to say. “That is not included.” We strive to keep this as a workplace study.”
Campbell finished third in NFL Coach of the Year voting last season, trailing only the Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski and the Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, and led the Lions to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in the Super Bowl era.
FROM CAMPBELL:Coach says Lions want Jameson Williams to play a greater role in 2024.
Campbell garnered the third-highest ranking among coaches in an NFLPA survey of over 1,700 members taken last season. Ninety-one percent of players thought Campbell was efficient with their time (16th overall), and was placed third among coaches in being “very willing to listen to the locker room.”
The Browns received a B-minus, and the Texans received an A-minus for coaching.
When asked Tuesday how his previous experience as an NFL player has helped him as a coach, Campbell responded, “Probably the biggest thing is just… you’ve been in their shoes in different situations.”
You’ve been in their shoes during training camp, after two or three weeks of practice, the second two-a-day, which is no longer two-a-days, but you get what it’s like,” he said. “You understand what happens after the game. You comprehend disappointment. You understand on a completely other level, but when you don’t have a good game, the media is on you, and your supporters are on you. You understand the pressures and lifestyle associated with it, and I believe it helps you comprehend where they are as well. And so you can deal with them on a much deeper psychological level than just Xs and Os.”
The Lions finished 15th in last year’s study and improved this year in categories such as food service and nutrition (from 28th to 19th in cafeteria cuisine and 25th in nutritionist), training room (from 24th to 13th), and training staff (tied for 22nd to 12th).
They dropped significantly in team travel (from tied for fourth to eighth) and received a B-minus in the new ownership area. Lions owner Sheila Hamp received an 8.1 out of 10 rating from players for her willingness to invest in facilities.
Tretter identified ownership and head coach as the two most relevant elements in the weighted rankings.
