Lions Coach Dan Campbell Put Players Under Pressure With Intense Week of Practice. 1
The Detroit Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, made sure his players felt the pressure throughout the week, and Sam LaPorta said there was no escaping it. Campbell picked apart small mistakes during practice, turning details that might normally go unnoticed into teaching moments for the entire team.
Following the Lions’ disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, the Lions responded with a 45-21 win against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, scoring 45 points after a slow start. LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs both made it clear afterward that Campbell’s demanding week had been hard on the players, but neither wanted him to ease up.
Sam LaPorta Explains Dan Campbell’s Intense Week With Detroit Lions
Aug 2, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell walks onto the practice field at Meijer Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
Aug 2, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell walks onto the practice field at Meijer Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
LaPorta described Campbell as an intimidating presence on the practice field, particularly when the coach keeps pressing after a mistake. The tight end said the difference this week was how consistently Campbell challenged the team.
“It was, yeah,” LaPorta said, smiling. “Obviously, Coach Campbell can be an intimidating guy. He’s 6-foot-6, former player, played 10, 11 years. When he’s out there barking at you, it doesn’t feel good. In those moments, you feel two feet tall, but then on game day, you feel 10 feet tall when you make the plays.”
LaPorta said Campbell was highlighting all the small mistakes in practice. A fire they’ve seen from their head coach, but this past week was a “constant thing.”
He was just pressing us, you know? The little things, details, anytime you messed up something small, he made it a big thing. Because the little things are important, and I think that was on display today.”
Good stuff from Sam LaPorta detailing what Dan Campbell called "an uncomfortable week" behind the scenes with the Lions.
"It was, yeah," LaPorta said, smiling. "Obviously, Coach Campbell can be an intimidating guy. He's 6-foot-6, former player, played 10, 11 years. When he's out… pic.twitter.com/5f1gHMmro1
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 12, 2026
LaPorta said Campbell was focused on the smallest details, not just major errors or missed opportunities. Players kept getting fingered for anything that went awry, regardless of how small it may have been.
This message from the head coach came after the Lions’ 31-26 loss to the Panthers, a game that revealed problems on both sides of the field. Entering Week 5, needing to bounce back from their last loss, the Lions’ coach showed them they wouldn’t lower their standards just because of one bad loss.
Their performance against the Cardinals wasn’t all that great from the get-go. They punted on their first three drives, while the Cardinals scored a touchdown on their first possession, but in the end, they found their form and took control, outscoring Arizona 45-14 over the final three quarters.
The running back’s response showed that the players understood what Campbell was trying to accomplish. The coach was not simply demanding a better result on Sunday; he wanted cleaner execution across the board.
The Lions head into their bye week at 3-2, with a divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers scheduled for October 25 at Ford Field. The win over the Cardinals gave the Lions some breathing room; however, Campbell has already made it clear that there is more work ahead.
For LaPorta and his teammates, the challenge now is carrying the attention to detail from that uncomfortable week into the next stretch of the season.