Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell faced a tough end to the season, as his team was upset in the Divisional Round of the playoffs despite being the No. 1 seed. However, he received a supportive message from NFL legend Peyton Manning, who could relate to the disappointment of a postseason defeat.
Manning reached out to Campbell, telling him, “I know how you feel, I’ve been there, and it’s not a good feeling. Understand that, but we did win the whole thing the next year.” The Hall of Fame quarterback encouraged Campbell to keep pushing forward, saying, “You just kind of keep sawing wood.”
The Lions’ 2022 season was a breakthrough for the franchise, as they won 15 games and made the playoffs for the first time in years. While the early exit was heartbreaking, Manning’s words of wisdom reminded Campbell that setbacks are part of the journey to success.
“That was the kind of loss that could probably make an organization say, ‘Let’s change everything. … Let’s kind of blow the whole thing up and start over,'” Manning noted. “Or your organization and owner can say, ‘Hey, we’re doing something right, let’s keep going.'”
General manager Brad Holmes has indicated he does not plan to make drastic changes, and the Lions appear poised to build on their impressive 2022 campaign. With Peyton Manning’s encouragement and the continued development of their talented roster, the Lions could be primed for an even deeper playoff run next season.
