Phoenix, Ariz. — Dan Campbell was drafted and developed by Bill Parcells, but no one has had a greater influence on the Detroit Lions coach than Sean Payton.
Payton was with the New York Giants when the team drafted Campbell in 1999. And when Payton followed Parcells to Dallas in 2003, Campbell came along with them, on Payton's recommendation. Then, when Campbell made the transition to coaching, Payton had to wait five years before getting a chance to hire his former player to the coaching staff in New Orleans.
And even though the two are now competitors, with Payton re-entering the coaching ranks as the head man in Denver this offseason, he's admired his pupil's rise in Detroit and been thrilled with Campbell's recent success.