Lions name Saints’ Campbell as next coach
The Detroit Lions landed the coach they coveted from the start of their search by hiring Dan Campbell.
The Lions tweeted a photo of the former New Orleans Saints tight ends coach signing his deal Wednesday, one day after the team formally introducing Brad Holmes as their general manager. Campbell signed a six-year contract, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms of the deal were not released.
The 44-year-old Campbell, who also had the title of assistant head coach with the Saints, has 11 years of experience in the NFL as a coach and 11 as a player. He was 5-7 as interim coach of Miami in 2015.
Campbell, who is from Clifton, was a standout tight end at Texas A&M and was drafted in the third round by the Giants in 1999. He had 91 career receptions for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Giants, Dallas, Detroit and New Orleans.
Campbell, who played for the Lions from 2006 to 2008, is the first former player to lead the franchise since Hall of Famer and two-time NFL champion Joe Schmidt was Detroit’s coach from 1967-72.
“Dan’s passion for this opportunity was evident throughout our interview process,“Lions president Rod Wood said.
Detroit fired GM Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia in November. Patricia was 13-29-1 in twoplus seasons as a first-time NFL head coach.
The Lions were 5-11 last season — their 13th season with double-digit losses this century — and have only one playoff win since winning the 1957 NFL title.
Mahomes returns to practice field
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes remained in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday but practiced in a limited capacity, raising hopes the reigning Super Bowl MVP can play in Sunday’s AFC title game.
“He looked good,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He’s in the protocol so there’s only certain things he can do, but he took all the snaps and he feels good. So, I mean, we’re just going to follow this protocol as close as we possibly can.”