It was a bit of an Odyssey for the Penn State Nittany Lions to hire a replacement for James Franklin this offseason, before eventually landing on Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell. It ended up being a much-praised hire, as Penn State ended up with one of the most highly respected coaches in the industry.
There’s a chance that Campbell wasn’t going to be available at all for Penn State, though. According to a recent report from ESPN, Campbell actually accepted the Detroit Lions job back in 2021. However, he changed his mind, backing out to stay at Iowa State.
Had Campbell taken the Lions job, there’s a good chance he’d still be in the NFL. Coaches don’t tend to make the jump from the NFL to college. However, since he was still at Iowa State, Penn State could offer him a more prestigious college head coaching position.
While at Iowa State, Campbell went 72-55 with two Top 25 finishes. In the process, he became one of the best-respected coaches in the game. That’s because of just how difficult a job Iowa State has proven to be over the years.
The Cyclones haven’t won a conference championship since 1912. Campbell played for the Big 12 Championship twice. Iowa State had not played in a major bowl since the 1977 Peach Bowl, never winning a major bowl. That is, until Campbell won the Fiesta Bowl in 2020. 2024 then proved to be the first double-digit win season in program history. So, it’s exciting to see what Campbell can do with better resources.
Matt Campbell Staying at Iowa State Worked Out for the Detroit Lions
GettyMatt Campbell with Iowa State
In the end, Matt Campbell spurning the Detroit Lions worked out for everyone involved. In his return to Iowa State, Campbell added another three bowl appearances, including the best season by wins in program history.
Campbell then flipped that into the Penn State job. Just two seasons ago, the Nittany Lions played in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff, and Franklin would ultimately be fired for not living up to massive expectations in 2025. That’s given Campbell the opportunity in Happy Valley, though he’ll be expected to win early and often.
Meanwhile, Detroit ended up hiring Dan Campbell instead of Matt Campbell. All he has managed to do is turn around from a cellar dweller in the NFC North to a perennial contender. That’s included winning the division twice and four-straight winning records.
It Was a Difficult Hiring Process for Penn State
GettyPenn State Nittany Lions mascot
Penn State ended up firing Franklin just six games into the 2025 season, after a 3-3 start. That should have given them the opportunity to quickly hire a head coach, getting to the proverbial market ahead of other teams. However, Franklin would end up with a new job before Penn State had his replacement.
The extended coaching search was also notably marked by missteps in trying to hire Kalani Sitake away from the BYU Cougars. The two sides went down the road until major boosters at BYU put up the money needed to keep him in Provo. That included the Crumbl Cookie CEO.
It was an incident that allowed Franklin to troll Penn State. While working on National Signing Day, he had Crumbl Cookies catered for his coaches. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions didn’t have a head coach for the biggest recruiting day of the year.
Eventually, Campbell came to Happy Valley, and he’s flipped the roster through the Transfer Portal. How that plan works out will remain to be seen.
Penn State Head Coach Matt Campbell Accepted Detroit Lions Job, Changed Mind