The Detroit Lions are a team on the rise in the NFL, with head coach Dan Campbell seeming to be the right man for the job as the leader on the sideline and head coach of this struggling franchise.
Although the Lions came into last season with low expectations, Detroit far exceeded what many expected for this team and, as a result, came incredibly close to ending their playoff drought.
The Lions finished the 2022 NFL season with a winning record of 9-8 and came in second place in the NFC North division ahead of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears and below the Minnesota Vikings.
Even though the Lions weren’t able to punch their ticket to the postseason last year, some wondered if they would have done better than the division-winning Vikings, who were upset by the New York Giants.
Heading into the 2023 campaign, the expectations are much higher for the team and Campbell, who now wants a live lion on the sidelines, but was shot down by the NFL, according to Pardon My Take, via Dov Kleiman on Twitter.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell said he wants Real live Lion on the sidelines for the team, per @PardonMyTake
Campbell said team owner Sheila Ford had no problem with the idea but the league didn't allow it.
"I’m not gonna point out Roger on this, I’m just gonna say the league… pic.twitter.com/pskrtchWSq
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 1, 2023
That would have been a cool thing to see on an NFL sideline but an insane thing to put in motion, as one could only imagine the nightmare scenario of it getting loose somehow and causing havoc.
Although the league denied Campbell’s request for a live lion, the head coach is still bringing that kind of fire to the sideline, as he’s as amped up as ever to get this team rolling and winning football games during the 2023 campaign.
NEXT: Colin Cowherd Has A Clear Favorite To Win NFC North This Season
