Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis is set to hit free agency soon, but if his recent comments are any indication, he might not be ready to walk away from Detroit just yet.
The Inside Scoop
During a revealing interview on the Slightly Decent podcast, Davis couldn’t stop raving about Lions head coach Dan Campbell. He recalled a defining moment from Detroit’s Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where a crucial clock mismanagement error cost the team a shot at a field goal. Instead of shifting blame, Campbell owned up to the mistake a level of accountability that left Davis in awe.
Dan Campbell’s Emotional Locker Room Confession
“He walked into the locker room, man, and he was crying,” Davis shared. “He straight-up said, ‘Blame your coach. This is on me. You can put it all on me.’”
Davis, a seasoned veteran, was stunned. “In my 20 years of playing football, I’ve never had a coach take full blame like that,” he admitted. “There were plenty of plays we could’ve made, but he put it all on himself.”
Campbell doubled down on this responsibility in his postgame comments, publicly declaring, “Their head coach cost them this week.”
A Coach Who Truly Connects with His Players
Beyond his accountability, Campbell’s personal approach to coaching sets him apart. Davis marveled at the way Campbell genuinely connects with his players.
“Dan talks to you every day at practice, in the locker room, just passing by,” Davis said. “After a game, he’ll call you out in front of the whole team, like, ‘Boy, you’re not just a cover corner you’re physical, too!’ No coach has ever done that for me.”
He also pointed out how Campbell recognizes even the little things, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown’s elite blocking, which often goes unnoticed.
The Ultimate Players’ Coach
“He’s real my favorite head coach I’ve ever played for, hands down,” Davis declared. “That’s why I was out there willing to break my jaw for him.”
For a player who has worked under legendary coaches like Todd Bowles, Bruce Arians, and Gus Malzahn, that’s a bold statement. But for Davis, no one compares to the culture and leadership Dan Campbell brings to the Lions.
