Running an NFL team can mirror running an organization, complete with boardroom pressure, talent management, culture, customer needs, and results. Several NFL coaches exemplify great leadership, but a fan-favorite again this season is none other than Detroit’s Coach Dan Campbell. Detroiters love the growth he has brought to the team. After decades of losing, he is bringing hope and energy to the city and fans everywhere. His approach offers lessons that extend far beyond the football field. Business leaders and managers can learn from Campbell’s “playbook” strategies like resilience, adaptability, strong communication, and vision that can rally teams, shift mindsets, and drive sustainable organizational success.
He is building the right culture. Coach Campbell demonstrates the values of recognition and a shared purpose by acknowledging key players' contributions and celebrating the individual and the team wins, no matter how big or small. This boosts motivation among the team and is great for long-term success. If you have ever seen clips of his postgame locker room talks, then you know exactly what I am talking about. He will publicly recognize the top players each game and what they did to earn their game ball. He is passionate, energized, and positive. His players always thank their teammates and others who helped them achieve their accomplishments, showing a true culture of shared purpose. He focuses on meaningful relationships and teamwork, which is evident in several key players who continuously collaborate well. Jamyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were given the nicknames “Sonic” and “Knuckles” after the video game characters who also worked in tandem to win, one having more speed and the other more strength.
He is a great communicator and motivator. His fiery and transparent leadership style is what has really inspired belief, not just for the players but for the entire Lions franchise. NFL coaches like Campbell rally teams with clarity, authenticity, and passion. His emotional connection and amicable personality result in loyalty and effort from his players and staff. Great leaders don’t just communicate strategy; they motivate and inspire others to be a part of the plan and contribute to the win. For practical application, business leaders should master transparent communication and connecting logic with emotion to build alignment and buy-in.
His adaptability fuels his team’s growth. Rigid leaders risk staying stagnant; adaptable leaders thrive, grow, and succeed. In the NFL, game plans shift weekly; weather, travel, injuries, and even trades can throw a wrench in a team’s plans, and they have to be able to readjust with confidence and ease. For example, the Lions had several injuries last year to key players that lasted the majority of the season. The second-string players stepped up to the challenge, and the remaining players adapted to the changes. Players expanded their skills, learned new plays, and created new working relationships with their teammates. They were still able to end with a pretty impressive record despite the obstacles thrown Coach Campbell’s way. Similarly, in business, leaders must pivot to market changes, technology, and workforce needs. To achieve this, it is important to build systems that allow for flexibility without losing direction and to inspire employees to overcome setbacks.
He focuses on the long-term vision versus the short-term wins. He understands that sustained success requires seeing beyond the scoreboard. He must balance today’s results with long-term franchise goals. To stay relevant in the NFL, he knows he must focus on drafting, culture, and systems, not just today’s game, but the future. He takes risks and gives his players opportunities for greatness and is willing to take the blame for failure. Organizational leaders can apply this by balancing quarterly results with investments that ensure future resilience and growth for employees and operations.
His resilience turns setbacks into catalysts. Failure is inevitable; resilience is optional. Like the Lions and many other teams, NFL coaches and players face losses weekly, so success can really depend on how quickly they rebound. Coach Campbell emulates resiliency best with one of his team mottos, “GRIT” which he defines as the mental toughness, perseverance, and relentlessness required to be a Detroit Lion. Even when they lose, he and his players learn from their mistakes and turn the loss into fuel for a better game next week. Leaders can apply this at their organizations by normalizing setbacks, framing them as learning opportunities, and keeping teams focused on the bigger picture.
Even if you don’t love football or the Detroit Lions, leadership is universal, and Coach Campbell knows it is less about calling plays and more about inspiring people. True leadership requires culture, adaptability, talent development, resilience, communication, and vision.
Sources: learnsoft.com; prideofdetroit.com; omarzahran.medium.com; forbes.com