DETROIT – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is well-known on the field, but his wife Holly Campbell offers a different perspective -- one of husband, best friend and father.
“I think when you trust somebody, you know, you trust them, that when you ask a hard question, they’re going to answer you and give you the answer that you need, not that you necessarily want,” Holly said.
Behind every coach is a family. Holly Campbell shared insights into life with Dan Campbell, revealing a more personal side of the Lions’ head coach.
---> Holly Campbell shares Detroit Lions game day rituals, family life with Dan Campbell
Holly’s surprised at the public’s interest in her life after her social media accounts became more popular online after a sideline kiss with her husband went viral.
“Everyone started following. It’s shocking to me,” Holly said. “It blew my mind. And I’ve always been private.”
Whether it’s their Yorkie circling the bowl, birthday videos celebrating Dan, or a peek at the coach helping with move-out day from college — including a funny struggle with fitting a big bean bag in the truck — Holly is opening up.
Was there ever a moment when Dan asked her not to post something?
“Um, no. He’s never told me not to post anything, but he does, you know, sometimes you get, I mean, when he starts getting, like, asked about it all the time,” Holly said. “I did kind of pause before I did the beanbag. It was the funniest thing I’d ever seen in my life. And, and I’m all, I mean, if I can embarrass him a little bit. Yeah, right.”
Beyond sharing family fun, Holly is using her social media influence to help others.
“My short-term goals are to highlight how great Detroit is, to connect with fans, to show small businesses and restaurants and, I mean, I just feel like giving back like that,” she said.
Dan and Holly also enjoy watching shows together, even if it means waiting weeks for the next episode.
“We usually have shows that we’re watching together. It’s annoying because sometimes you have to wait, like, three weeks where you can watch the next episode, but you’re not allowed, you’re not allowed to watch ahead,” Holly said. “Right now we’re watching ‘Chief of War’ on, I don’t know that one on Apple. It’s got Jason Momoa. It’s like the history of the reunification of Hawaii. So it’s really good. It’s really good.”
What does Holly do to help Dan mentally?
“Well, I mean, it’s a balancing act, because you have to kind of anticipate what he needs. Because sometimes he needs you to be, you know, completely supportive and completely like, you know, you sometimes he wants the advice, sometimes he wants a sounding board, and sometimes he just wants you to listen,” she said.
After 27 years of marriage, what is the key to their success?
“I think we just like each other. We just really, we have a good time together, and we make each other laugh and and we’re both. I mean, we’re used to each other.”