Detroit Lions Dan Campbell should steal ideas…
Dan Campbell should buy a box full of cash from Sean Payton
“Dan Campbell Should Buy a Box of Cash From Sean Payton
When the Detroit Lions host the Denver Broncos on Saturday, it won’t be just any game. It’ll be the first time Dan Campbell has faced his mentor, Sean Payton. It’s a master-and-end apprentice match-up, and it’s one that’s sure to be emotional for both of them.
Campbell has been with the Lions since the start of the 2021 season, when he took over as head coach after five years as Payton’s tight ends coach in New Orleans.
On the other side of the field, Anzalone will be playing his first game in Detroit since joining the Lions from the Saints, where he began his career as a defensive end.
I obviously have a ton of respect for him. We won a ton of games, he motivates his team, he calls his offense, and he’s just a great coach,” Anzalone said. “It’s crazy how the season went and now they’re on a roll, winning six out of seven, and I know a fair amount of coaches there, so he’s got a good staff, and he puts a lot of demands on his players, including his coaches.”
Anzalone has played for both of these coaches, so he can compare and contrast them. There are some personality differences, but they both have a reputation for resilience.
Where the Lions had a late-season surge last year, winning eight of their last 10 games, Anzalone said the same thing is happening now. “I think Dan’s personality might be a bit different,” he said. “But, yeah, the way their season has been going, as I’ve been following it from afar, it’s a lot like what we had last year. Just listen to what the media said about them, and now that they’re getting a little bit of momentum, they’re doing really well.”
When the game begins on Saturday, the rivalry between the two coaches is sure to be at its peak. For his part, Anzalone expects the Broncos to enter the game with fire in their eyes as Payton seeks to outplay his former backup.
“I think there’s a certain mentorship there, and Dan can talk more about it, but whenever you play a game, I think it’s different for me because I know someone a little bit better,” Campbell said. “It definitely gives you a little bit more edge in terms of how you approach your week, and I’m sure Sean will try to come in here and give us 50, because that’s just him. It’s just because of the personal connections.”
Some of the greatest NFL coaches have used props to inspire their teams throughout the course of a long NFL season.
Parcells, who mentored both Payton and Campbell and is now the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, was known for his use of props and gimmicks to increase team morale or communicate a message. “I don’t usually do that,” Anzalone said. “But when I played for him in New Orleans, I remember this one time.” On Tuesday, Anzalone told the story of how the veteran coach used money to get his team motivated for the playoffs.
When we arrived at the team meeting room, Anzalone said, “We walked in and he had a box of $100’s. It was a clear acrylic box. I don’t know how to count it, but it looked like it was the amount of money you would make if you made it to the playoffs.”
