Dan Campbell is pretty clearly the best head coach the Detroit Lions have had in the Super Bowl era. The record book is starting to reflect that.
With the team’s 19-9 victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Campbell notched his 54th win since becoming Lions head coach. That moves him into second place on the franchise’s all-time coaching wins list.
The Lions football communications department posted about Campbell moving up on the team’s coaching wins list after Week 9.
Before Sunday, Campbell was tied with Potsy Clark and George Wilson with 53 wins for the Lions.
Only Wayne Fontes has more wins as a head coach in Lions history with 66 victories. But Fontes posted a losing record in nine seasons with the Lions, going 66-67. Campbell owns a 54-38-1 mark.
Things started slowly for the Lions offense Sunday. Detroit didn’t reach the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
But the defense was terrific, playing its best game on the road this season just a week after losing All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell.
With the win, the Lions improved to 6-2 and a half game back of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North standings. The Vikings will face the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Dan Campbell Moves Into 2nd Place on Lions Coaching Wins List
It’s been a long time since the Lions had a head coach with 54 wins. The two coaches Campbell moved in front of for second place on the franchise’s wins list both coached prior to the Super Bowl.
Clark owns the highest win percentage for a coach in Lions history at an incredible .679. He posted a 53-25-7 record from 1931-40. During that time, the team won one NFL championship, which was the first in the franchise’s history in 1935.
Ironically, Wilson won the franchise’s most recent championship in 1957. That was his first season as Lions head coach. He posted a 53-45-6 mark from 1957-64.
Fontes coached the Lions from 1988-96. While several coaches have finished with better win percentages for the Lions since Fontes left the team, he was the last coach before Campbell to lead the Lions to a playoff win, division title or championship game appearance.
After Sunday’s victory, Campbell improved his Detroit win percentage to .586. That sits as fourth best in the franchise’s history.
Campbell Beats Former Team in Dolphins
Sunday’s victory was actually Campbell’s 59th as an NFL head coach. That’s because in addition to his 54 wins with Detroit, he also won five games as an interim head coach during the 2015 campaign.
Campbell coached the Dolphins that season. So ironically, his important career win in Week 9 came against his former team.
Campbell was only 39 years old as interim head coach with the Dolphins. But he took over a 1-3 squad and had Miami competitive into December. The Dolphins won three of their first five games after the coaching change.
Miami, though, didn’t retain Campbell as head coach for the 2016 campaign. Instead, he became an assistant head coache and tight ends coach under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints.
Campbell remained in that role for five campaigns until the head coaching opportunity in Detroit arrived in 2021.
Lions Announce Dan Campbell News After Beating Dolphins