Dan Campbell Calls Chiefs the ‘Blueprint’ for Lions’ Future Success
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has built the team from the ground up, rebuilding almost the entire roster and turning a bottom-dwelling team into a Super Bowl contender.
Campbell said this week’s opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, have written the blueprint for what he wants his team to become. The Lions coach outlined the challenge of playing the Chiefs even despite their early-season struggles.
Dan Campbell Calls Chiefs the NFL’s Model of Success
Campbell shared some effusive praise for the Chiefs this week, noting that he has seen firsthand how difficult it is to build a contending team and keep them near the top every season. The Lions have won the NFC North in two straight seasons, but the Chiefs have won their division for nine consecutive years and reached the Super Bowl for three straight seasons.
“To be able to come back year in and year out and stay hungry, stay competitive, do the right things, don’t get complacent, eliminate entitlement when you’ve been a champion over and over, I think that takes a special kind of group, a special kind of coaching staff, special kind of leadership, players, the whole thing,” Campbell said, via The Athletic. “And so, what they’ve done is special. Same (as) all those years New England had with Brady and Belichick.”
Campbell added that he has a lot of respect for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and what he has built in Kansas City. The Lions coach added that he’s not taking the team lightly despite their struggles through a 2-3 start.
“That is so difficult to do, and so I’ve got the utmost respect for those guys. And that’s why they’re never out of it,” Campbell said. “They’re always going to have a chance because they have that makeup. They have that winner’s makeup, that champion’s makeup.”
Lions quarterback Jared Goff backed his coach’s comments, praising the Chiefs for their ability to stay at the top of the NFL for so long.
“That’s certainly number one is the consistency over time,” Goff said. “I don’t know how many in a row — AFC championships. It’s incredible. And it’s hard to reload every year after playing a long season like that. So I think that’s what you respect most is their ability over almost a decade now to reload every offseason and come back ready to go.”
Lions Face Big Opportunity
The Lions have a chance for a statement game against the Chiefs, just as their win in Kansas City in the 2023 season put them on the map as a Super Bowl contender. The Chiefs have struggled on offense and still have another week before a major piece of their passing attack — wide receiver Rashee Rice — returns from his six-game suspension.
The Lions stumbled out of the gate this season, losing to the Green Bay Packers in the season opener, but have reeled off four straight wins and have returned to the top of the division. A win over the Chiefs could give them even more space.
Colts Predicted to Add Physical Defender in 2026 NFL Draft
With this Indianapolis Colts team looking dangerous, they probably won't be drafting early in 2026. But that’s not going to stop Chris Ballard from doing what he does best — hunting value.
As the season progresses, mock drafts for the 2026 NFL Draft are starting to roll out — and a clear trend is emerging. One that Colts fans have been eyeing for quite some time.
CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson’s latest mock draft has Indianapolis focusing on improving the depleted secondary with their 2026 first-round pick. A move that makes perfect sense.
Wilson has the Colts selecting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 23rd overall pick.
McCoy, a 6’0”, 193-pound junior, was one of college football’s most physical corners before suffering a torn ACL in January of 2025. Even with that injury, he is still viewed as one of the top defensive backs in the nation.
Wilson has McCoy ranked as his number one cornerback prospect and sixth overall player on his big board for the 2026 NFL Draft.
McCoy's the kind of corner you can leave on an island and let him work against WR1s. He plays with swagger, attacks the ball in the air, and doesn’t shy from run support.
And McCoy’s production backs up the tape. Before his ACL injury in January, he posted an 89.6 PFF coverage grade, the second-highest among Power Four cornerbacks for the 2024 season.
He also earned a near-perfect 99.9 PFF Game Athleticism Score, showcasing elite movement and fluidity in coverage.
Opposing quarterbacks recorded just a 53.6 passer rating when targeting him, and he tied for second among Power Four corners with four interceptions and nine pass breakups.
Drafting McCoy would immediately strengthen this secondary, and given the injury, there’s a real chance he slips to No. 23 — the kind of value Ballard is always hunting.
There are other names that make sense for Indy depending on how the board shakes out, including Mansoor Delane (LSU), a senior corner with physical tools and polish. Colton Hood (Tennessee) also stands out as a versatile defensive back who can play inside or outside.
Beyond those two, Avieon Terrell (Clemson) brings elite short-area quickness and fluid movement, while A.J. Harris (Penn State) fits the Colts’ mold with length and athleticism.
Each pick would add needed depth and upside to a secondary still searching for stability.
If the Colts can land a player like McCoy — or any of the top corners in this class — it would mark another step in solidifying one of the AFC’s fastest-rising defenses.
With the offense already clicking, a strengthened secondary could be what pushes Indianapolis from playoff contender to legitimate Super Bowl threat.
