While they didn’t qualify for the postseason, it’s not hard to see Dan Campbell’s tight-knit Lions as one of the best stories of the 2022 NFL season. After starting 1-6, Detroit rallied to finish with a 9-8 record. Eventually, while already eliminated from the playoffs, the Lions spitefully punched Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the mouth to drag their rivals down into the muck with them.
As the Lions look ahead to what might be a bright future in Detroit, GM Brad Holmes sat down with team reporter Dannie Rogers to recap the team’s most recent campaign. And when the discussion came to how key cogs like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown credited the GM for making their pro football dreams come true, Holmes couldn’t help himself from tearing up.
It’s obvious the now third-year GM cares a lot about his players:
They aren’t just draft picks to @Lions’ GM Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell…they’re family.
Watch more of my sit down with Holmes tonight on Inside the Pride airing on Fox 2 Detroit @ 7:30. 📺 pic.twitter.com/l3fdo9Lhbb
— Dannie (@dannierogers___) January 11, 2023
Man. It can be so easy to be cynical about football culture and how executives and coaches sometimes treat their players as nothing more than machines. For Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, that clearly isn’t the case. They know they’re working with brilliant young men, with human beings, and understand that vital relationship aspect that can make a football team an actual family.
A vital offseason to sand over any flaws — particularly the NFL’s 28th-ranked defense by DVOA — awaits the Lions. With the right moves, it’s hard not to see the Lions becoming a legitimate contender come September 2023. They seem to be in excellent hands with a caring, meticulous leader like Holmes.
NFL fans loved seeing Holmes' raw response in showing love for his players
Gosh I love my general manager as much as my head coach. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Just truly amazing human beings! https://t.co/H6RVlO9qk0
— J (@Lion4lifedet) January 12, 2023
This team https://t.co/93z1RiVex6
— Elliot19 (@Gurns85) January 12, 2023
This is amazing. I love this team. https://t.co/iY87YqlmPI
— Detroit Sports Chat (@DETsportschat) January 12, 2023
From the top down, the Lions organization is genuine and amazing #OnePride https://t.co/tpGInIQm54
— Clemmie (@ClementineUDL) January 12, 2023
I love brad Holmes https://t.co/ios8kbsZNA
— Bryan Schiedel (@BryanSchiedel1) January 11, 2023
Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are the guys, man. They’re the guys. So happy to have them leading the way. 🥲🦁#OnePride https://t.co/KPEVXqHG5e
— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) January 11, 2023
I've never been more confident in a GM and coaching staff than I am with these guys. The culture Brad and Dan have instilled in the Lions is amazing. https://t.co/sISpqA7ko1
— Joshua Gabel (@GabelJoshua) January 12, 2023
Holmes and Campbell appreciate what players sacrifice. #OnePride https://t.co/wWzOkAzkGm
— Dylan Purcell (@dylpurcell) January 12, 2023
I’ve said it a million times, but I’ll say it again. Free agents are watching this team and there is no doubt going to be plenty of players that want to be a part of something like this. This is so beyond the norm. There’s so much love within this organization https://t.co/QAz5mZkaNx
— Mike Payton (@POD_Payton) January 11, 2023
