How Close Was Iowa State’s Matt Campbell To Leaving To Become The Coach Of The Detroit Lions?

Plenty has been made about the search for a new coach to take over in Detroit for the fired Matt Patricia. The team finally settled on New Orleans Saints assistant Dan Campbell.

The selection of Campbell seemed surprising, as not many had him seriously in the running for the position.

Dan Campbell might not have been the top pick in many fans’ eyes, but there was a Campbell that fans did want: Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell.

There were reports last week that the Lions and Matt Campbell did have conversations about the position, with one report saying that the Lions offered Matt Campbell an 8-year-deal worth a massive $65 million.

That offer was never confirmed, but it would make sense that the Lions would come big with the money trying to land a big name coach like Campbell.

The Lions and Campbell had several conversations, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that, at the end of the day, talks between the two sides broke down before a former fiscal offer was ever made.

Breer stated that Iowa State was getting a lot of players back, one major reason that Matt Campbell decided to return.

Detroit was the only team that Campbell spoke to, despite the fact that there were seven openings around the league this offseason.

Now the team has made their bed with Dan Campbell, and they will have to hope that he can be the right voice with the right passion to turn the team around – like many other coaches in the past have tried to do.