(WXYZ) — New Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell is being open and honest in his first press conference with the media.
On Thursday, Campbell said he could give people coach-speak or say how many games he thinks the team could win, but "none of that matters, and you guys don't want to hear it. You've had enough of that s***."
Lions head coach Dan Campbell: "I could give you coach-speak, I could tell you how many games we're gonna win. None of that matters. 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘁."
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
"This place has been kicked, it's been battered, it's been bruised," he added.
“I wanted this job, bad. I know this team and this community. Detroit is made of some really great people, this place has been kicked, bartered and bruised.
— Justin Rose (@JRoseWXYZ) January 21, 2021
This team is going to take on the identity of this city. It’s been down and it’s found a way to pick itself up.”
He also said the team is going to take on the identity of the city it represents. A city, he said, that has been down and found a way to get up and overcome adversity.
"We’re going to kick you in the teeth. When you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. When you knock us down, we’re going to get up and on our way up we’re going to bite a kneecap off, and we’re going to stand up," he said. "It’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. On the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap, and then it’s going to take three shots to knock us down, and when we do, we’re going to take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality."
Campbell also said that Lions fans are sick of tired of watching press conferences with new head coaches. He's 10th head coach since 2001.
Dan Campbell said he knows Lions fans are sick and tired of watching new-hire coach press conferences.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
According to Campbell, he was fired up when he arrived in Detroit this week as two fans were waiting with footballs.
He wants to eliminate the Same Old Lions mantra that fans often use.
"I think we need to bring some hope back into this place," he said.
Dan Campbell said when he arrived in Detroit this week, two fans were waiting with footballs.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
“I was fired up,” he said. pic.twitter.com/pOWMvVA4ps
He also talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the team.
"Let's call a spade a spade: There's probably more pieces offensively than defensively that have me fired up," he said.
Dan Campbell on Matthew Stafford: "He's a stud. He's one of the toughest quarterbacks you'll ever see."
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
Won't comment on the future, and says he needs to talk more to Brad Holmes.
Campbell called Stafford one of the toughest quarterbacks he's ever seen, but wouldn't comment on Stafford's future, saying he needed to talk more with new GM Brad Holmes.
Read more highlights from his introductory press conference below from our sports team Brad Galli and Justin Rose below.
“Talent can sometimes be overrated. I’m sorry to say it. It starts with people,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
Lions head coach Dan Campbell: "I could give you coach-speak, I could tell you how many games we're gonna win. None of that matters. 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘁."
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 21, 2021
Dan Campbell starts off presser:
— Justin Rose (@JRoseWXYZ) January 21, 2021
"Make sure they think I'm Matt Campbell in the process, not that I'm in the chair, I'm Dan Campbell."
Added he told his agent to do whatever it took to get in front of Sheila/Rod. pic.twitter.com/L8Vze9IuJl
I guarantee Dan Campbell eats more meat and potatoes than you do.
— Justin Rose (@JRoseWXYZ) January 21, 2021
Campbell says that he and Brad Holmes are “able to build this thing from scratch”
— Justin Rose (@JRoseWXYZ) January 21, 2021
🧐