Back to the Detroit Lions Newsfeed

Lions' Campbell reflects on mentor Sean Payton's retirement, opportunity to pick his brain

Mobile, Ala. — Of all the people who have shaped the football mind of Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, none have had a more profound impact than former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.

Not only did Payton serve as a direct mentor to Campbell in New Orleans the five years before he accepted the job in Detroit, but Payton was also on the coaching staff for eight of Campbell's 11 seasons as a player.

"I got both facets of it, as a player and a coach," Campbell said. "So really everything that I am, or what I'm about, or how I think, really does come from him in a sense.