It’s fair to say Dan Campbell has already become one of the most successful coaches in the history of the Detroit Lions during the Super Bowl era. No Detroit head coach has posted a higher win percentage since the franchise last won an NFL championship.

However, a recent report revealed that Campbell almost never became Detroit’s head coach when the team began its search in 2021.

Report Says Lions Initially Reached Agreement With Matt Campbell

According to Jake Trotter of ESPN, the Lions originally had an agreement in place with then-Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell to take over the franchise.

Trotter mentioned the detail in a profile piece about Campbell, who is now the head coach at Penn State Nittany Lions football.

The report stated that Campbell initially agreed to become Detroit’s head coach during the 2021 offseason before ultimately deciding to stay at Iowa State.

“In 2021, Campbell initially agreed to coach the Detroit Lions before changing his mind; the Lions hired Dan Campbell instead,” Trotter wrote.

Campbell later explained that leaving Ames, Iowa, wasn’t something he was eager to do at the time.

“Leaving Ames wasn’t something that I was looking to do or wanting to do.”

Questions Remain About How Close the Deal Was

The report didn’t provide many details about how far negotiations progressed between Campbell and the Lions. That leaves several unanswered questions for Detroit fans.

For example:

Was there only a verbal agreement?

Did Campbell change his mind quickly?

Or was the decision reversed after more serious discussions?

At the time, Campbell had just completed a strong season with Iowa State. The Cyclones finished 9–3 and earned a 34–17 victory over Oregon Ducks football in the Fiesta Bowl, ending the year ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll.

Over 10 seasons at Iowa State, Campbell compiled a 72–55 record, becoming the most successful coach in program history.

In 2026, he took over the Penn State program, which had recently reached the College Football Playoff national semifinal.

Lions Benefited From Hiring Dan Campbell Instead

While Matt Campbell had plenty of success at Iowa State, the Lions appear to have benefited from the change of plans.

Detroit ultimately hired Dan Campbell, a move that has helped transform the organization.

Despite a disappointing 2025 season, Campbell has helped establish a winning culture that the franchise hadn’t experienced in decades. The Lions recorded four straight winning seasons, their first such stretch since 1969–1972.

Campbell has also guided Detroit to several major milestones since the 2023 season, and his next goal is leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance.

The Lions last won an NFL championship in 1957, long before the Super Bowl era began.

Dan Campbell’s Record With Detroit

Since taking over in 2021, Campbell has compiled a 48–36–1 record as Lions head coach. His .571 winning percentage is the best in team history during the Super Bowl era.

He also owns a 2–2 postseason record.

While it’s impossible to know how the Lions would have performed under Matt Campbell, Detroit’s leadership has to be satisfied with how the 2021 coaching search ultimately turned out.