Jack Campbell's metoric rise to the top of the NFL continued after a stellar 2025-2026 season.
After Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell handed the keys of the defense to Campbell, he rewarded his decision with a career year. He finished with a career-high 176 total tackles (89 solo), five sacks, three forced fumbles (two recoveries), and four passes defended on his way to winning the Dick Butkus Award and earning an NFL All-Pro selection. The sky is the limit fo Campbell, and now his leadership qualities will be on full display for the 2026-2027 season.
Detroit selected Campbell as a captain for the 2027-2027 season
The Lions locked up Campbell with a four-year, $81 million extension this offseason after initially declining his fifth-year option. The organization declined his option due to the money attached to it that would have forced the Lions to pay Campbell $21.925 million next season, more than Fred Warner ($21 million per year), the current highest-paid NFL linebacker. After making the obvious decision to keep Campbell in Detroit longterm, the organization made another smart decision by putting him in a leadership role.
Our captains for the 2026 season pic.twitter.com/IOfWnWDEln
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 7, 2026
After a stellar four-year career with the Lions, the organization took notice and added him as a captain for the 2026-2027 season. Excluding his amazing stats, Campbell is simply a great person and a great leader, and this move makes a lot of sense. Before Detroit selected Campbell with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he was a two-year captain on Iowa's defense, proving his leadership capabilities. Campbell is a prototypical MIKE linebacker who handles the green dot, relaying plays from the coaches to his teammates, showing he already has strong leadership qualities.
He is also a leader off the field as he remains heavily involved with multiple charities in the Detroit community. It was an easy decision to pair him with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill as the Lions look to get back on track after a down 2025-2026 season. If the team can stay healthy, they will no doubt be in the mix in the NFC North and the playoff race next season, with Campbell and the defense leading the way.
The offense has some question marks after letting star RB David Montgomery walk, but they still have Jahmyr Gibbs, who will now be the unquestioned lead back in Detroit. Detroit has a lot of things going for them and could fly under the radar, with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers projected to be at the top of the division. With Campbell signed long-term and now locked in as a captain, the Detroit defense will be scary next season, and they have the potential to make some noise.
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