ISU’s Campbell Turned Down a Massive Contract to Coach the Lions?
Iowa State football fans...you have a "good problem" on your hands. When you're coming off a nine-win season, the first appearance in a New Year's Six bowl game, and finishing 10th in the final college football playoff rankings...your coach is going to be a "hot commodity" in NFL circles.
Back in January, there were rumors flying that Matt Campbell interviewed with the New York Jets . It sounds like they may have at least "talked", whatever that means. Then after holding their collective breath, in February, Iowa State fans were able to exhale when they heard that Iowa State signed Campbell to a three year contract extension through 2028.
What about the latest Campbell rumor?
According to 247 Sports, CBS Sports national college football writer Dennis Dodd said that Campbell declined a proposed eight-year, $68.5 million contract offer from the Detroit Lions. Dodd made an appearance Wednesday on the show CBS Sports HQ talking about their top 25 Power Five college football coaches entering the 2021 season when he made the comments. (Incidentally, Campbell is ranked 9th)
View Dodd's comments here, of course, he doesn't state a source
Did the Lions actually offer the job?
The Detroit Free Reports Campbell was never actually offered the head coaching job. The article mentions that "a Lions source with knowledge of the team's search process said there was no formal offer was made to Campbell, and that the Lions got the No. 1 candidate on their list: Former New Orleans Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell". The article quotes the source saying "the Lions' conversations with Campbell did not go beyond their first interview."
Much ado about nothing
Turns out Dodd did have one thing correct. He stated: "But if you want to talk about loyalty, he's the ultimate loyal guy." In the past, Campbell liked to work with one year contracts, so signing the three year extension means he knows he has the potential for something special.
Plenty of reason for optimism at Iowa State
This fall, 19 of 22 starters return, highlighted by quarterback Brock Purdy, star running back Breece Hall and stud tight end Charlie Kolar all returning to the line-up. Now the upcoming season can't come soon enough. The entire state of Iowa has Saturday, September 11th marked on their calendars, when the Iowa Hawkeyes travel to Ames. ISU officials are expecting to be able to have a full stadium with 61,500 roaring fans in attendance. I can't wait.