{"id":775253,"date":"2026-02-25T11:14:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/775253\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:14:20","slug":"what-detroit-lions-head-coach-dan-campbell-said-during-nfl-scouting-combine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/775253\/","title":{"rendered":"What Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said during NFL Scouting Combine"},"content":{"rendered":"

INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 Detroit Lions<\/a> head coach Dan Campbell<\/a> addressed a multitude of topics during his press conference on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.<\/p>\n

The scouting combine will take place from Feb. 26 to March 1.<\/p>\n

Campbell said the staff remained largely intact and that the team is focused on cleaning up details on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Um, there\u2019s been a lot that\u2019s uh transpired here, really, since the uh end of the season,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Campbell said he had been heavily involved with defensive work alongside \u201cShep\u201d and others, and he welcomed Jim O\u2019Neil<\/a> back to the staff after O\u2019Neil had an opportunity with the Jets.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, you know we\u2019re still in the process of kind of looking at everything the cutups offense, defense, special teams,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Offense<\/p>\n

Campbell described the offensive coaching transition as Drew Petzing<\/a> getting up to speed with the Lions\u2019 terminology and working closely with Jared Goff<\/a>, and he praised Petzing\u2019s background coaching receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, you know, Drew is kind of getting up to speed with our terminology. Uh, he\u2019s been getting together with Goff and uh you know and and just trying to make sure that we get everything that that kind of makes sense for for him but us for us as well and he and golf. and then we\u2019ll start hitting the cutups.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said Mike Kafka<\/a> was hired as pass game coordinator and called Kafka a creative coach with good ideas and experience running an offense.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that worked out uh, really well. But a guy who\u2019s been our interim head coach, you know, has coached quarterbacks, has coached some good quarterbacks, uh run an offense. Um so he\u2019s got a good, you know, a good perspective on things. He\u2019s got some pretty good ideas,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Campbell announced an internal promotion on the coaching staff and expressed enthusiasm about continuity.<\/p>\n

“Steve Oliver<\/a>, we promoted from assistant O-line coach to tight end coach. He\u2019s earned that. I\u2019ve interviewed him twice, uh, over the last two times we\u2019ve had that position open, and it was time he\u2019s earned it. So, I\u2019m fired up for him. Guys are excited,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Campbell said the coaching staff would be the starting point for improving team performance before evaluating roster changes in free agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it needed to start with what can we do a little bit better as coaches,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cUm, we\u2019re not that far off. We still had a top-five offense. We just think our efficiency was a little off. So, how do we get a little bit better uh, with what we do as coaches? And now it\u2019s about the roster, you know, where do we upgrade ourselves? Where do we bring in some competition?\u201d<\/p>\n

Defense<\/p>\n

Campbell praised the defensive staff\u2019s progress under Kelvin Sheppard<\/a>, suggesting the unit had grown and that the team must tighten fundamentals and clarify assignments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I mean I think Shep did a good job, and I think he learned a lot, and I think he grew a ton. Um, and I love the staff that\u2019s around him. I really do, man. I I think those guys from Casey Rodgers<\/a> to Deshea Townsend<\/a> to get Jim O\u2019Neal back, Shaun Dion Hamilton<\/a>, I just think it\u2019s a really good unit, man,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Taylor Decker<\/p>\n

Campbell said he has given left tackle Taylor Decker<\/a> space to decide whether to retire or return, but added the team must prepare either way.<\/p>\n

Campbell said he spoke with Decker after the season and has backed off while the player weighs his options. <\/p>\n

He also said the organization will pursue players to fill the spot whether Decker returns or not, and that the interior of the offensive line remains an area of focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve left him alone um you know we had a conversation right when the season ended um you know about just him taking his time to figure out this what he really feels like he wants to do can do and so I I\u2019ve left him alone there um I don\u2019t want to say we haven\u2019t had a conversation but I\u2019m leaving that between us,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you know, there\u2019ll be some um you know, look, I if it\u2019s not, then we got to find a guy, right? Um, but if it is, we still got to find a guy because, as much as I love Deck, you know, he\u2019s got some things that are going to need some management. Um, and that\u2019s kind of where we\u2019re at, you know, and so we\u2019re one way or another, we\u2019re going to need somebody that can play over there. Um, you know, and they can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter. So, that\u2019s important,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Campbell said the Lions have been evaluating interior offensive-line options as well, and are assessing which players might be available and how potential signings would affect other roster spots.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been digging. We\u2019ve been looking at stuff, but until we can kind of figure a little bit of those pieces out, um, and then exactly who is going to be available, who are we going to have the ability to potentially go after? uh, how does that affect us in another position or the depth of the roster? Then we\u2019re kind of we\u2019re just waiting it out here a little bit,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Decker announced on Tuesday (Feb. 24) via his Instagram, \u201cWhom shall I send, and who will go for us? Here am I; SEND ME! #Year11.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2192 Detroit Lions OT Taylor Decker announces NFL future via Instagram post ahead of year 11<\/a><\/p>\n

Kerby Joseph<\/p>\n

Campbell said the team is taking a cautious, step-by-step approach to getting Kerby Joseph<\/a> ready for the 2026 season and will reassess progress in about a month to six weeks.<\/p>\n

Campbell said staff have been working with Joseph and want to make sure his recovery, stability, and strength meet the demands of the position before declaring him ready to handle a full season.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Joseph shared several posts on his Instagram story, including one showing his knee during acupuncture treatment with 17 needles visible.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, that\u2019s tough to say. You know, we\u2019ve been treating him. Um, he\u2019s done a few things. We\u2019re in a position now to where we\u2019re slowly working him back. You know what this is going to look like? How is it going to feel call it a month from now maybe a month and a half, and then we\u2019ll I think we\u2019ll have a lot better idea because this something where he\u2019s going to be able to handle what it\u2019s going to feel like or is can we get it stable enough? Can we get enough strength? It\u2019s all of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campbell\u2019s comments signal a cautious timeline rather than a firm return date, and indicate the team will monitor Joseph\u2019s conditioning, stability, and ability to tolerate game-level contact before making roster plans.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Detroit Lions star posts picture of knee on social media. Fans are very concerned<\/a><\/p>\n

Roster construction<\/p>\n

On roster construction, Campbell said the Lions are weighing splash signings against maintaining depth and competition, and that any player they add should be either a clear starter or someone who raises the level of competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t say, and I\u2019m not saying we would or we wouldn\u2019t, but if you can\u2019t say, uh, for sure, I know without any question, without any doubt, the player that we\u2019re going to acquire or that we sign is a starter, then he better be able to shake it up,\u201d<\/p>\n

Gametape vs. Combine<\/p>\n

Campbell also reflected on the value of gametape versus NFL combine measurements.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the tape is always going to speak louder than anything else, and if the tape doesn\u2019t speak, then it doesn\u2019t matter anything else really,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Mike Clark\/Josh Schuler<\/p>\n

Campbell confirmed that longtime strength coach Mike Clark<\/a> planned to retire after a 50-year career and said Josh Schuler<\/a> would take over as head strength coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirector of strength performance, um, is retiring. Uh, somebody I\u2019ve known a long time, been in this profession for 50 years,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cJosh Schuler will be the head strength coach, and he\u2019ll be running that area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2192 From Ford Estates to Ford Field: Rod Wood to retire from Detroit Lions leadership<\/a><\/p>\n

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