Dan Campbell Warns Family Before Games: 'Just Wear a Diaper'

Dan Campbell discusses his aggressiveness during radio interview.

The Detroit Lions were able to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers on a last-second field goal to secure their seventh victory of the 2023 season. 

During Detroit's final offensive drive, head coach Dan Campbell and the coaching staff faced a delicate fourth down decision that ended up being quite pivotal. 

Instead of attempting a 44-yard field goal with 1:47 remaining, Campbell elected to go for it. 

With the defense struggling to stop the Chargers' offense in the second half, it was an understandable decision. 

A successful completion to tight end Sam LaPorta allowed the team to milk the clock and win the game with no time remaining.  

During his weekly radio interview on 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell explained that the coaching staff had a feeling remaining aggressive would be key this week. 

"Things always happen in a game that's going to affect your decisions. It just does. But I had a feeling going into that game we needed to be aggressive. And I loved our matchup offensively. And I just knew our guys would respond," Campbell said. "Certainly in that moment it felt like the right thing to do. And look, here’s what I would say, because I tell my family this, 'Just wear a diaper before some of these games.' I’ll give them an alert and say, 'Put them on and be ready to roll.'"

Part of the reason Detroit's third-year head coach is more comfortable making the decision to keep the offense on the field instead of settling for field goals is the play of veteran quarterback Jared Goff, who Campbell said is a player who is still improving. 

"I think that’s where I felt like the game was going. I knew I wanted to be aggressive in this game anyway going in, and then I felt like that’s – with where we were at in that game, it felt like the right decision," Campbell told reporters Monday. "And there again, man, our offense was playing at a high level, our offensive line was – the (Chargers) pass rush was nil because of those guys up front and (Jared) Goff was in a rhythm. 

"I just felt really good about it. And ultimately, those guys executed, they made the play, man. Man, I was proud of them, we’re all proud of them. That’s the way to step up.”