Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is not pleased with his star player potentially revealing trade secrets.
Campbell called out running back Jahmyr Gibbs after he shared a video of teammate Jermar Jefferson, which seemed to unintentionally expose some of the team’s pass protection schemes. Although it didn’t appear that Gibbs meant to disclose this information, Campbell issued a warning about being more cautious with what is shared publicly.
The video, as noted by Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, showed Jefferson in front of a whiteboard that displayed offensive plays and drop-back protections, including codes for specific calls. The video began circulating on Saturday, after the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day victory over the Chicago Bears. When reporters asked Campbell about the leak, he admitted he wasn’t initially aware but emphasized the importance of keeping such information private.
“I didn’t know that,” Campbell said, asking for clarification on the player who made the post. “Yeah, I need to check on that then. Did not know that. Yeah, I’d rather our stuff not be out there.”
Gibbs, a key player for the Lions’ offense this season, has already surpassed his rookie-year numbers through 12 games, rushing for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 28 receptions for 282 yards and another receiving touchdown.
Gibbs faced some early struggles in the Thanksgiving win over the Bears, including a fumble and a dropped pass that prevented the Lions from extending their 16-0 lead. As the Bears mounted a second-half comeback, Gibbs saw limited action, with only two carries and one catch after halftime. Veteran David Montgomery took the lead in the backfield.
Campbell downplayed any concerns about the running back rotation, suggesting that the offensive struggles and lack of extended drives were the primary reasons for Gibbs’ reduced role. “We just didn’t get a lot of plays,” Campbell explained. “We had two drives that stalled out—one was a three-and-out, one was a four-and-out.”
Despite the close call with the Bears, the Lions secured an important win, improving their playoff standing. With the victory, they extended their winning streak to 10 games and now hold a two-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC’s top overall seed.