Jason Cabinda on Dan Campbell: It's Like Having the Army 'Lead General'

Fullback Jason Cabinda has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Detroit Lions.

Fullback Jason Cabinda will remain with the Detroit Lions for at least another two seasons. 

The team announced the 25-year-old signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday afternoon. 

Additional terms were not disclosed. 

After developing a bond with head coach Dan Campbell, Cabinda can now put aside any worries about his football future and focus on getting better. 

"It's been quite a roller coaster of a ride. To be in a place where I can feel more stable, I can feel focused on my position and growing in it, knowing exactly what's expected of me and what I need to focus on is huge for me," Cabinda told a small group of reporters. 

After coming out of Penn State, Cabinda was an undrafted free agent. Following a stint with the then-Oakland Raiders, he joined the Lions in 2019. 

"It relieves a whole lot of anxiety off of me. I think not a lot of guys talk about mental health and what that toll can be, being on practice squad, being cut, being released, not knowing what next year might look like, things like that," he said. "To be in a place where I can just focus on getting better every single day is a blessing."

With the mental strain out of the way regarding whether he would remain in the league, Cabinda can now turn his focus to football, in order to have an opportunity to contribute more out on the field in 2022. 

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From observing and listening to players speak about head coach Dan Campbell, his experience as a player and his locker room demeanor, it has motivated players to want to be in Detroit and to want to play hard for their head coach.

"I've really never had a coach where I can look him in the eye and I know he'd go to battle with me. I know for a fact Coach Campbell would put those pads on and go out and play if he could," he said. "That means a lot to me, because he's been in our shoes. He knows the grind, he knows the pain. He knows what it feels like after games for your body to be beat up."

Cabinda added, "When he speaks, there's another level of intensity, another level of lock-in that you have, because there's just a high level of respect for a man like that. So, to be able to have a coach like that leading us, it's like having the freaking lead general of the Army leading you into war. That's what it feels like. So, I'm super, super happy that he's our coach. I mean, he's been fantastic for us. Very, very motivational. Really, all those things that you look for in a coach. So, I'm excited to continue working with Coach Campbell."