Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell stirred up attention with his bold decision-making in the team’s 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers, opting to go for it on fourth down five times. The Lions successfully converted on four of those attempts, including one in the final minute of the game, when they chose to go for it on a crucial fourth-and-1, even though they were within field goal range. This decision allowed them to run down the clock before securing a game-winning field goal from Jake Bates.

Campbell’s aggressiveness has garnered attention, especially with the high stakes of his decisions. The lone failure came on a fourth-and-1 from their own 30-yard line. He acknowledged that not all coaches would make such bold choices, especially when failure could result in backlash from fans. He shared his experience from last season when failed fourth downs in the NFC Championship led to severe online criticism, including fans showing up at his home. The situation led Campbell and his family to move, which became public in the 2024 season.

When asked about his philosophy, Campbell explained, “Well, here’s the obvious. What happens when we don’t get that? That’s the obvious. Well, we’re moving to the next house,” referring to the potential backlash. “To each his own, there’s plenty of philosophies that work in this league. And you can win a lot of games doing it your way, and I just lean more this way.”

Now in his fourth season as the Lions’ coach, Campbell has faced numerous late-game decisions. His call against Green Bay mirrored a similar one last season when the Lions opted to go for a fourth-and-2 from the Chargers’ 26-yard line, again in field goal range with the game tied. That decision helped them secure a win against the Chargers, and Campbell sees these experiences as key influences on his risk-taking approach.

In 2024, the Lions have successfully converted 68.8% of their fourth-down attempts, underscoring Campbell’s penchant for aggressive calls. However, Campbell emphasized that he doesn’t always go for it, with each decision based on the unique context of the game. Against Green Bay, he felt that the aggressive choices were necessary for securing the win. “If you think you can win the game and you don’t have to worry about anything else after that moment, I’m gonna be drawn to that more times than not,” Campbell said.