METAIRIE, La. -- Dan Campbell was thrown into the fire when he got his first head-coaching gig three years ago.
He did a fine job -- going 5-7 as the Miami Dolphins' interim coach before they decided to hire Adam Gase in the offseason. But Campbell, who was the youngest coach in the NFL at the time, at 39, also knew he needed more seasoning.
So what better than three years of graduate school under Sean Payton as the New Orleans Saints' assistant head coach and tight ends coach?
Not only is Payton one of the game's best head coaches, but he was also a mentor of Campbell's throughout much of his 10-year playing career as a tight end with the Giants, Cowboys, Lions and Saints.