Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has completely reshaped the franchise, rebuilding nearly the entire roster and turning a once-struggling team into a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
Campbell said this week that the Kansas City Chiefs represent the standard for what he wants his team to become. He acknowledged the immense challenge of facing the Chiefs, even with their recent early-season inconsistencies.
Dan Campbell Labels Chiefs the Gold Standard of the NFL
Campbell offered glowing remarks about the Chiefs this week, pointing out that he understands how difficult it is to not only build a winning team but also sustain that success every year. The Lions have captured the NFC North title in back-to-back seasons, while Kansas City has dominated its division for nine straight years and made the Super Bowl three years in a row.
“To be able to come back every year and remain hungry, stay competitive, do things the right way, avoid complacency, and eliminate entitlement when you’ve been champions again and again — that takes a rare kind of group, coaching staff, leadership, and players,” Campbell said, via The Athletic. “What they’ve done is remarkable. It’s similar to what New England did for years with Brady and Belichick.”
Campbell also spoke highly of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and the program he’s built in Kansas City. He emphasized that the Lions won’t underestimate them, despite the Chiefs’ uneven 2-3 start.
.“That’s such a hard thing to accomplish, so I have the utmost respect for that organization,” Campbell said. “They’re never truly out of any game because of who they are. They’ve got that winning mentality, that championship DNA.”
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff echoed his coach’s sentiment, commending Kansas City’s ability to stay dominant for nearly a decade.
“The number one thing is consistency over time,” Goff said. “I don’t know how many straight AFC Championships they’ve reached — it’s incredible. It’s tough to keep reloading every season after those long playoff runs, and that’s what you respect most — their ability to regroup and come back ready to compete every single year.”
Lions See a Huge Opportunity Ahead
The Lions have a chance to make another statement against the Chiefs, much like their 2023 victory in Kansas City that helped establish them as true contenders. The Chiefs’ offense has been shaky this season, and they remain without one of their top receivers, Rashee Rice, who’s still serving a six-game suspension.
Detroit started this season slowly with a loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 but has since bounced back with four straight wins, reclaiming the top spot in the NFC North. Beating the Chiefs could give them even greater momentum and separation in the standings.
