INDIANAPOLIS – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed a multitude of topics during his press conference on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The scouting combine will take place from Feb. 26 to March 1.
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Campbell said the staff remained largely intact and that the team is focused on cleaning up details on both sides of the ball.
“Good. Um, there’s been a lot that’s uh transpired here, really, since the uh end of the season,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he had been heavily involved with defensive work alongside “Shep” and others, and he welcomed Jim O’Neil back to the staff after O’Neil had an opportunity with the Jets.
“Um, you know we’re still in the process of kind of looking at everything the cutups offense, defense, special teams,” Campbell said.
Offense
Campbell described the offensive coaching transition as Drew Petzing getting up to speed with the Lions’ terminology and working closely with Jared Goff, and he praised Petzing’s background coaching receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks.
“Uh, you know, Drew is kind of getting up to speed with our terminology. Uh, he’s been getting together with Goff and uh you know and and just trying to make sure that we get everything that that kind of makes sense for for him but us for us as well and he and golf. and then we’ll start hitting the cutups.”
He said Mike Kafka was hired as pass game coordinator and called Kafka a creative coach with good ideas and experience running an offense.
“So that worked out uh, really well. But a guy who’s been our interim head coach, you know, has coached quarterbacks, has coached some good quarterbacks, uh run an offense. Um so he’s got a good, you know, a good perspective on things. He’s got some pretty good ideas,” Campbell said.
Campbell announced an internal promotion on the coaching staff and expressed enthusiasm about continuity.
"Steve Oliver, we promoted from assistant O-line coach to tight end coach. He’s earned that. I’ve interviewed him twice, uh, over the last two times we’ve had that position open, and it was time he’s earned it. So, I’m fired up for him. Guys are excited," Campbell said.
Campbell said the coaching staff would be the starting point for improving team performance before evaluating roster changes in free agency.
“For me it needed to start with what can we do a little bit better as coaches,” Campbell said. “Um, we’re not that far off. We still had a top-five offense. We just think our efficiency was a little off. So, how do we get a little bit better uh, with what we do as coaches? And now it’s about the roster, you know, where do we upgrade ourselves? Where do we bring in some competition?”
Defense
Campbell praised the defensive staff’s progress under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the unit had grown and that the team must tighten fundamentals and clarify assignments.
“Well, I mean I think Shep did a good job, and I think he learned a lot, and I think he grew a ton. Um, and I love the staff that’s around him. I really do, man. I I think those guys from Casey Rodgers to Deshea Townsend to get Jim O’Neal back, Shaun Dion Hamilton, I just think it’s a really good unit, man," Campbell said.
Taylor Decker
Campbell said he has given left tackle Taylor Decker space to decide whether to retire or return, but added the team must prepare either way.
Campbell said he spoke with Decker after the season and has backed off while the player weighs his options.
He also said the organization will pursue players to fill the spot whether Decker returns or not, and that the interior of the offensive line remains an area of focus.
“I’ve left him alone um you know we had a conversation right when the season ended um you know about just him taking his time to figure out this what he really feels like he wants to do can do and so I I’ve left him alone there um I don’t want to say we haven’t had a conversation but I’m leaving that between us,” Campbell said.
“But you know, there’ll be some um you know, look, I if it’s not, then we got to find a guy, right? Um, but if it is, we still got to find a guy because, as much as I love Deck, you know, he’s got some things that are going to need some management. Um, and that’s kind of where we’re at, you know, and so we’re one way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there. Um, you know, and they can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter. So, that’s important,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the Lions have been evaluating interior offensive-line options as well, and are assessing which players might be available and how potential signings would affect other roster spots.
“We’ve been digging. We’ve been looking at stuff, but until we can kind of figure a little bit of those pieces out, um, and then exactly who is going to be available, who are we going to have the ability to potentially go after? uh, how does that affect us in another position or the depth of the roster? Then we’re kind of we’re just waiting it out here a little bit,” Campbell said.
Decker announced on Tuesday (Feb. 24) via his Instagram, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Here am I; SEND ME! #Year11.”
→ Detroit Lions OT Taylor Decker announces NFL future via Instagram post ahead of year 11
Kerby Joseph
Campbell said the team is taking a cautious, step-by-step approach to getting Kerby Joseph ready for the 2026 season and will reassess progress in about a month to six weeks.
Campbell said staff have been working with Joseph and want to make sure his recovery, stability, and strength meet the demands of the position before declaring him ready to handle a full season.
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Joseph shared several posts on his Instagram story, including one showing his knee during acupuncture treatment with 17 needles visible.
“Uh, that’s tough to say. You know, we’ve been treating him. Um, he’s done a few things. We’re in a position now to where we’re slowly working him back. You know what this is going to look like? How is it going to feel call it a month from now maybe a month and a half, and then we’ll I think we’ll have a lot better idea because this something where he’s going to be able to handle what it’s going to feel like or is can we get it stable enough? Can we get enough strength? It’s all of those things.”
Campbell’s comments signal a cautious timeline rather than a firm return date, and indicate the team will monitor Joseph’s conditioning, stability, and ability to tolerate game-level contact before making roster plans.
→ Detroit Lions star posts picture of knee on social media. Fans are very concerned
Roster construction
On roster construction, Campbell said the Lions are weighing splash signings against maintaining depth and competition, and that any player they add should be either a clear starter or someone who raises the level of competition.
“If you can’t say, and I’m not saying we would or we wouldn’t, but if you can’t say, uh, for sure, I know without any question, without any doubt, the player that we’re going to acquire or that we sign is a starter, then he better be able to shake it up,”
Gametape vs. Combine
Campbell also reflected on the value of gametape versus NFL combine measurements.
“I think the tape is always going to speak louder than anything else, and if the tape doesn’t speak, then it doesn’t matter anything else really,” Campbell said.
Mike Clark/Josh Schuler
Campbell confirmed that longtime strength coach Mike Clark planned to retire after a 50-year career and said Josh Schuler would take over as head strength coach.
“Director of strength performance, um, is retiring. Uh, somebody I’ve known a long time, been in this profession for 50 years,” Campbell said. “Josh Schuler will be the head strength coach, and he’ll be running that area.”
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