Dan Campbell’s Priceless Locker Room Speech: A Snapshot of the Lions’ Bond… “There you go, Skip. Keep throwing up… or whatever you’re doing over there.”

Campbell’s anger might be dangerous, but it’s helped his Lions find their true identity.

The “take the points” crowd, which includes coaches who choose to kick short field goals or punt in order to play for field position, somehow managed to link themselves with the “real,” tough, old-school football crowd. Most of the time, people think of the coaches who make the smart, analytical choices as riverboat players on a hot run, not as second-year Deloitte analysts making PowerPoints. This is just good branding.

Of course, there’s also Dan Campbell.

The Lions’ head coach is actually rude. It’s the only team in the NFL that has tried more fourth-down conversions since Campbell took over in 2021. Campbell didn’t act out at all when he chose to go for five different fourth-down tries in Thursday’s 34–31 win over the Packers. The Lions were successful on four of those chances, including a fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 21-yard line with 43 seconds left in a game that was tied. Thanks to the extra point, the Lions were able to run out of time and stop Jordan Love and his team from getting the ball back after Jake Bates’ game-winning field goal.

Is there another coach in the league who would have made that last choice on fourth down? History tells us no.With the score tied in the last minute of regulation, the Lions are the first team since at least 2000 to go for a fourth down from inside their opponent’s 30-yard line. On this one occasion, you could find several statistical models that would have supported taking the points and making the field goal. The Amazon announcers were shocked when the Lions’ offense set up and then snapped the ball.

Kirk Herbstreit said, “The man has to kick this field goal.”

Not at all.

He said after the game, “I just felt like we needed to end it on offense.” “I didn’t want to hand that ball back.”

“Everything in me said, ‘Let’s finish this,'”

They’ve won 11 straight games and are now 12-1. There is one month left in the regular season, but they already have the best record in the NFL and are on track for the best season in the team’s history. Campbell has worked toward this goal for four seasons, turning around decades of bad luck to make his team a Super Bowl threat. Some of Campbell’s chances on that trip up have been easy to see as tries to punch above his weight or risks that were easier to take when his team didn’t have anything to lose.

But this is no longer a scrappy new team. It’s easy for the Lions to get to the top of the NFC standings. The NFC North might be the best division in the NFL, and they are 4-0 in it. Now that a boss or team has reached the top of the mountain, they often get tighter. To play not to lose but to win. But it’s clear that’s not the case as the Lions try to stay ahead of other NFC contenders and get ready for the playoffs as the season comes to a close.

Yes, we have one too.

These Lions are not the same ones. But the same Dan Campbell coaches both of them.

Detroit shouldn’t let up on the gas, which is a good thing. Even though the Lions have been almost perfect this season, they still don’t have much room for error as they try to get the top place and a bye in the first round.

At least in the second half of Thursday’s game, the Packers looked like they could beat Detroit, especially since the Lions’ defense was so beat up. For that reason alone, Campbell didn’t want to give Love another chance with the ball at the end of the game, not even for a short time. At this point, though, the Packers’ 9-4 record overall and 1-3 record in the division make it clear that they are in the wild card spot. With a record of 10-2, the Vikings still have a small chance of catching Detroit and beating them for the division title and maybe even the top place.

More importantly, Detroit needed to win Thursday to keep Philadelphia, the second-hottest team in the conference, at bay. Philadelphia is only one game behind Detroit with a 10-2 record. One loss in the last month of the season won’t hurt the Lions’ chances of getting the top seed, even if the Birds win all of their games. But Detroit probably shouldn’t lose two games.The Eagles’ final strength of schedule is the 11th easiest in the NFL. Detroit’s, on the other hand, starts next Sunday at home against the Bills and ends with the Chiefs.One thing the Lions are playing for besides a first-round bye is to keep Jared Goff from having to play outside in Philadelphia in late January.

These are the kinds of things that can make teachers tense up. They just want to make it to the end of the year. That doesn’t seem to be in Campbell’s genes. He has never really changed his “aggressive” way of teaching, no matter what kind of team he is in charge of. The Lions have been much better than average this year on fourth downs. They’ve tried 22 and made 15 of them. In terms of tries, they are tied for sixth, fourth, and eighth, respectively.

However, the Lions’ success rate on fourth-down tries has been pretty average since 2021. Detroit has tried the most fourth-down conversions over the last four years, so they have the most, but their 55% success rate is the 13th best in the league during that time. A lot of these plays haven’t worked out as Campbell has led the Lions to the top. He still called for them more often than any other boss, though.

Compare this to the Chiefs, who are the only other team in the NFL with one loss. Since 2021, Kansas City has the best number of conversions on fourth down in football. TruMedia says that in that time, the Chiefs have only gone for them 58 times, while Detroit has done so 140 times. Is the fact that the Chiefs are less afraid of taking risks and pickier about which fourth downs to try part of the reason why they are 10 percentage points more likely to win than Detroit? Yes. (Some of it is also Patrick Mahomes, you know.)

What about the other team? Between Detroit and Kansas City, which one has made the most of fourth downs over the last four years? Which team’s fans seem to be the happy with the way their coaches handle those high-stakes plays? What I get from Lions fans is that they know Campbell’s decisions have led to wins, while Chiefs fans may complain about how conservative Andy Reid is.

The Lions’ rise from the bottom of the NFL to the top has become a feel-good story. Campbell, who wears his heart on his shirt and makes brave choices, has led them the whole way. They still have to finish the season, beat the Eagles, and see how they do in the playoffs. This won’t be easy, given how bad their defense is right now, how much they still have to play, and the fact that there are still worries about their quarterback in the middle of winter. But Thursday night did feel like the best time for this Lions team. They’re the first team in club history to start 12-1, and it’s important that they’ve done it by acting like themselves. That means going for fourth downs and taking risks. In the end, they won and Campbell gave a loud speech after the game in which he stopped in the middle to praise a blocker for throwing up.

This exchange in Dan Campbell’s postgame locker room speech is priceless.

“There you go, Skip. Keep throwing up… or whatever you’re doing over there.” pic.twitter.com/JvgUzXkEdu

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 6, 2024

These Lions are not the same ones. But the same Dan Campbell coaches both of them.End of the text

What Nora Princiotti

Nora Princiotti writes about pop music, the NFL, and society, sometimes all at the same time. She is the author of the show “Every Single Album,” a guest on “The Ringer NFL Show,” and The Ringer’s official Taylor Swift expert.

Dan Campbell’s Priceless Locker Room Speech: A Snapshot of the Lions’ Bond… “There you go, Skip. Keep throwing up… or whatever you’re doing over there.”

In the modern NFL, locker room moments rarely go unnoticed. Coaches deliver impassioned speeches, players celebrate, and cameras capture it all. Yet few teams in recent memory have produced a scene as genuine and entertaining as Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions did in their latest postgame celebration.

After another hard-fought win in their remarkable 2024 season, Campbell addressed his team with his signature blend of intensity, humor, and humanity. As he worked through his speech, a comical interruption from a player affectionately nicknamed “Skip” created a moment that was as priceless as it was emblematic of the Lions’ tight-knit culture.

“There you go, Skip. Keep throwing up… or whatever you’re doing over there,” Campbell said mid-sentence, barely able to suppress a grin as the entire room erupted into laughter.

The line was perfectly timed and entirely unscripted, an encapsulation of Campbell’s authenticity as a leader and his ability to find humor even in the grittiest moments.

The Context Behind the Moment

While fans might not know the full backstory of Skip’s apparent postgame nausea, the anecdote paints a vivid picture of the Lions’ culture under Campbell. This wasn’t a moment of tension or a serious reprimand—it was camaraderie in its purest form.

Players had just left it all on the field, grinding their way to another victory in what has become one of the most promising Lions seasons in decades. Campbell, known for his intense passion and “blue-collar” mentality, used the moment to both celebrate the team’s effort and lighten the mood.

Skip’s situation, though lighthearted, was also a testament to the effort the Lions pour into every game. “Throwing up” could easily symbolize the physical toll of an NFL battle, and Campbell’s quip turned that gritty reality into a relatable, humanizing moment.

Dan Campbell: The Master of Locker Room Dynamics

Since taking over as head coach in 2021, Campbell has been a force of nature in Detroit. Known for his fiery speeches, motivational metaphors (biting kneecaps, anyone?), and larger-than-life personality, he has breathed life into a Lions franchise long mired in mediocrity.

But beyond the theatrics lies a coach deeply invested in his players. Campbell’s ability to connect on a personal level has helped transform the Lions into a contender. He knows when to push, when to motivate, and, as evidenced by his comment to Skip, when to laugh.

The moment wasn’t just a throwaway joke—it was a reflection of trust. In the often high-stakes world of the NFL, where pressure can fracture even the best teams, Campbell has fostered an environment where players feel supported, valued, and seen as individuals.

The Locker Room: More Than Just Wins and Losses

Campbell’s speech and the laughter it sparked highlight a deeper truth about the Lions: they are a team in every sense of the word. The brotherhood on display in that locker room isn’t something that can be faked.

As NFL teams slog through the long, grueling season, locker room moments take on added significance. They’re not just about celebrating victories—they’re about sustaining morale, reinforcing bonds, and keeping everyone grounded.

Campbell’s mix of humor and authenticity ensures that the Lions stay both motivated and loose, a balancing act that is critical to their success. Moments like these also resonate with fans, who get to see the human side of their heroes.

Fan Reactions: A Viral Moment

Unsurprisingly, the clip of Campbell’s comment spread like wildfire on social media. Fans and analysts alike praised the moment, with many pointing out how it showcased the team’s chemistry.

“This is why the Lions are for real this year,” one fan tweeted. “It’s not just the talent on the field—it’s the culture Dan Campbell has built.”

Others marveled at Campbell’s ability to inject levity into a high-pressure situation. “I’d run through a wall for Dan Campbell, but I’d also laugh the whole way if he said something like this,” another fan wrote.

The exchange even sparked memes and jokes, with some fans speculating on what Skip ate before the game to end up in such a state.

A Reflection of a New Era in Detroit

This moment, as trivial as it might seem, is symbolic of something much larger for the Detroit Lions. For decades, the franchise was synonymous with disappointment. But under Campbell’s leadership, the Lions have rewritten their narrative.

No longer just a team that tries hard, Detroit is now a team that wins—and does so with a personality all its own. The Lions’ success is built not just on talent but on an unshakable bond.

Dan Campbell’s comment to Skip wasn’t just a funny aside—it was a microcosm of a team that fights for each other, laughs together, and wins together.

As the Lions continue their push for postseason glory, moments like these remind fans why this team is so special. They’re not just contenders on the field—they’re a family off it. And with Campbell leading the way, there’s no telling how far they can go.