As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to face the Detroit Lions in their Week 16 NFL matchup at Ford Field, head coach Mike Tomlin has identified one Lions defender who stands out as a major concern.

Surprisingly, it’s not star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

Instead, Tomlin is focusing on Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, a player the Steelers studied extensively during the 2023 NFL Draft process when Campbell was coming out of Iowa.

Mike Tomlin Praises Jack Campbell’s Leadership and Impact

During a recent episode of The Mike Tomlin Show with host Bob Pompeani, Tomlin delivered glowing praise for Campbell, highlighting both his on-field production and off-field leadership.

“Jack Campbell’s a monster,” Tomlin said. “He’s a high-quality leader and football man. You feel it not just when you’re around him, but when he’s around his teammates.”

Tomlin explained that he spent time with Campbell during Iowa’s Pro Day, including a dinner with Campbell and several of his teammates. According to Tomlin, Campbell immediately stood out as the leader of the group.

“He was the ringleader. You felt it,” Tomlin added. “And he’s doing the same things now in Detroit.”

Steelers’ Strong Pre-Draft Interest in Jack Campbell

The Steelers showed significant interest in Campbell ahead of the draft. Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and senior scouting assistant Kelvin Fisher were all present in Ames, Iowa, to evaluate the standout linebacker.

Despite that interest, Pittsburgh ultimately traded up to select offensive tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia. Campbell was taken one pick later, going No. 18 overall to the Detroit Lions, just after the Steelers’ original slot at No. 17.

Jack Campbell’s Breakout Season with the Detroit Lions

Since entering the NFL, Campbell has quickly become a cornerstone of Detroit’s defense.

Through this season:

PFF Grade: 89.2 (third-highest among NFL linebackers)

Snaps Played: 913

Run Stops: 56

Missed Tackles: 11 (7.8% missed tackle rate)

Coverage Stats: 39 receptions allowed for 341 yards and four touchdowns

Pass Rush: 15 pressures as a blitzer

Tomlin summed up Campbell’s importance perfectly, calling him “the straw that stirs their defensive drink.”

A Major Challenge for Pittsburgh in Week 16

The Steelers will have their hands full containing Campbell on Sunday. He’s on pace for All-Pro consideration and is widely viewed as a strong Pro Bowl candidate.

When Pittsburgh takes the field at Ford Field, they’ll get a firsthand reminder of why they valued Campbell so highly coming out of Iowa — and why Mike Tomlin still believes the Lions linebacker is one of the most impactful defenders in the NFL today.