(Chris Trotman/Stringer)
(DETROIT) The Detroit Lions hired Dan Campbell to be the team’s new head coach on Wednesday.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that it is a six-year contract.
Campbell brings 22 years of football experience, 11 years as a player and 11 years as a coach, to a Lions organization which has finished last in the NFC North for three straight seasons. Since 2016, he served as the New Orleans Saints’ assistant head coach and tight ends coach.
“With more than 20 years of experience as both a coach and player in the National Football League, Dan knows the rigors of professional football and what it takes to be successful,” Principal Owner and Chairman Sheila Ford Hamp said in a statement. “He will help promote the culture we want to establish across our organization, while also bringing with him high energy, a respect for the game and an identity with which everyone can align themselves."
Campbell replaces Matt Patricia, who was fired in November after amassing a 13-29-1 record during his time with Detroit.
“Dan's passion for this opportunity was evident throughout our interview process. When we began the search for a head coach, it was imperative that we find the right leader who values our commitment to building a winning culture based on organizational alignment and collaboration,” said Lions President and CEO Rod Wood in a statement.
Campbell started his playing career with the New York Giants, and then went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, Lions and Saints. He was interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins for 12 games in 2015, going 5-7 during that span.