LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
June 5, 2025
Opening Statement: “Start with (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow). Frank’s been unbelievable — teammate, football player, man of the community. He’s done it all and he will be — he would be sorely missed. One of the greatest memories I have of Frank was the divisional against Tampa Bay, fourth-and-1. We run downhill to (Lions RB) Craig Reynolds and he’s got big boy and hits him and he kind of hits the knee and then he has to get back up and tap the block, we score. Was huge. It’s the type of player he was. So he’ll be missed. But this train goes on. Train rolls on and it’s the next man up. We will be ready to go when camp hits. We’ll be ready to go. We got plenty of versatility up there. We like the guys that we drafted. We like our free agents that we brought in, the young guys — (Lions C) Kingsley (Eguakun) being one of those guys, among others. So, I got all the respect for Frank Ragnow and I love him to death. The other thing is quite frankly, some of this stuff about contract talk? That’s disrespectful. That’s not what this is ever about. So anyway, love you, Frank. Appreciate you. OTA number six. This is the last one. We only go in two weeks so we can get them in three days early, get ready for the Hall of Fame game, training camp. It was really just to get an introduction on what we’re doing. Probably more up to speed defensively. It’s just about everybody getting on the same page with how (Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) Shep wants to do things. We’re cooking pretty good right now. I like where we’re at. Offensively, same thing there. It’s about what (Lions Offensive Coordinator John Morton) Johnnie really wants. We’ve tweaked a few things here and there, more of how he sees it, how he wants things running, how he wants to isolate certain players. A lot of the focal points were (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo and (Lions RB Jahmyr) Gibbs, (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta among others, and then getting the offense in. I thought we did that. I thought we really honed in on their versatility and all things they can do. Same thing on special teams with (Lions Special Teams Coordinator Dave) Fipp, man. He’s my guy. Me and Fipp now, here we go, we’re going on year five. I like where we’re at there, certainly. And look, we’re good. We’re good with where we’re at. We’re about to get a little break. Players are going to stay in shape. They’ll be ready to go, and we’re going to hit the ground running in training camp. They know that. We’ll be ready to battle.”
On Lions C Frank Ragnow’s communication with the organization throughout his retirement process and if they knew it was a possibility: “We just — we knew that there was — we knew he was contemplating it for a while. But there was never yes or no. We did our best to give him his space and let him sort it out, which he did. It was kind of one of those, ‘Hey man, you’re going to come to a decision at some point here. We’d certainly like it before the offseason’s out,’ and he did, and was time. Listen, whenever you know it’s your time, it is the right time, because it’s not fair to him and it’s not fair to his teammates or anybody else. I respect the hell out of him for the decision. It’s not easy to do. It’s not easy to do. But he knows himself. I’d always respect that.”
On if the team was surprised by Lions C Frank Ragnow’s decision to retire considering he said he was finally healthy toward the end of the season: “Well, yeah, I mean I think when those come up, they’re a little bit of a surprise. But I think everybody’s different. To answer your question, what happens is — there was no indication that – he did, he had one of the best seasons he’s ever had. He was the healthiest he’s been in a long time and you’re like, he’s in his prime right now. But if you’re him, you also got to remember the amount of time and work and detail spent on taking care of his body — the training, the rehab that goes into it before he even trains. You’re talking about hours and hours and hours. ‘I got to work on this an hour before. I got to train for two hours. Then I got to make sure I get the game plan in.’ That’s another hour. And then we got to get ready for practice. It’s just the physical and mental side of it. You’ve got to be of a certain mind frame. If you feel like you’re not there, the time is right to walk away.”
On if Lions C Frank Ragnow personally sought counsel from him regarding his decision: “He did.”
On early impressions of Lions DL Tyleik Williams and who has emerged as a surprise standout this offseason: “Tyleik hasn’t practiced. He’s done a little bit of walkthrough, certainly been in the classroom. I mentioned this last week — nothing’s changed. These rookies, we’re trying to get them right. Before they get out for summer and we bring them back, we want them ready and healthy to go full speed training camp. But knowing what we know and where he’s at and what he can do, we like what he is. We like where he’s at. He is smart. He can get lined up. I know he’s been grinding in the rehab, the training, so that’s good. Surprise — I got to be careful with all that again, right? Without pads — how real is it? I know this. You start talking about some guys that you see development — guys that we’re counting on and they’re in a certain place and you wanted to feel like coming out of spring, they took a step up, knowing that it’s only spring. (Lions RB Jahmyr) Gibbs, (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo — those are two guys that really stood out. I know this, the addition of (Lions CB DJ) Reed, (Lions DB Avonte) Maddox — that looks good. Glad we got those guys. They’ll fit right in with us. So, I can go down the list here, but those are a couple of guys probably that I think of.”
On the importance of experience at the center position given the current group’s limited NFL game exposure: “Experience is big. It is. But I think it’s whether it’s there or it’s the guy next to you, that can help out a lot too. But you’re going to need some experience somewhere in there and as long as you have that, you’re OK. I mentioned this before — (former Saints C) Erik McCoy, he played center in college at Texas A&M when I was at New Orleans and (former Saints C) Max Unger had just retired. We were fortunate we drafted him and he was plug and play. We put him in. He grew quickly, quickly, quickly. By game three, game four, he was cooking. Doesn’t mean you won’t have growing pains, but it can happen fast. The development can happen fast. I’m saying, for example, you put (Lions OL) Tate (Ratledge) in there. If not, is it (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow) by him at guard who’s helping him out or is Graham your center? Or is it one of these other guys? Is it (Lions C) Kingsley (Eguakun)? We’re going to have options. That’s why we’re excited about training camp. We’re going to find this out. We’re going to let these guys go at it. We just signed (Lions OL) Trystan Colon. There’s another option. Don’t know a lot about him because he just got here. But we’re going to have plenty. We still got (Lions G Kayode Awosika) Yode here. We got guys.”
On Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s performance in camp and where the team sees him fitting in: “Ennis would be another guy that stood out, by the way. You mentioned that. And (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta had a good spring too. Rakestraw certainly was another guy. It’s up to him. He’s got an opportunity. We’re going to play the best guy. That’s what competition’s about. The whole roster knows that. If you’re the best guy, we’re not going to just sit there. It’s the best guy. He’s going to have a chance to compete. We’d like to keep him outside right now and just let him go. He had a good spring. There again, we’re in pajamas, but he’s going to get a chance to compete and see how much he’s grown and what kind of production he can have for us.”
On why Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is being kept on the outside: “Look, we tinkered with some nickel last year and it was probably a little too much, too fast for him. We felt like once we did some things with him outside – practice, things of that nature – man, he really began to grow. And I think right now that’s where he really belongs. That’s where he can really take off. You know, the other thing, we still – between (Lions CB) Amik (Robertson), you got (Lions DB Brian) Branch, you got (Lions CB Avonte) Maddox – we’ve got some guys that can play nickel. Shoot, (Lions CB D.J.) Reed can play nickel. So I think right now, that’d be the plan, and just let him take off.”
On whether it is unsettling to have the interior offensive linemen in flux: “I mean, look, it’s different knowing that Frank’s out of the fold now. It is. I hate to use the word ‘unsettling,’ but there is acknowledgement, like, ‘Ok, so that’s where we’re at, and now we need growth. We need development, quickly.’ That’s why (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach) Hank Fraley’s the coach in that room. He’s done a hell of a job developing talent. He’s going to get these guys right – whoever it is – between (Lions OL Miles) Frazier and (Lions OL Tate) Ratledge. All of these guys, some of these young guys we got. And there again, having (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow) helps now – it’s huge – because he’s got the flexibility to play both guards and center.”
On what he has seen from Lions DL Ahmed Hassanein: “I think the biggest thing is, when you start talking about the O-line/D-line for sure – even more so than the skill – it’s hard to say. There’s a number of reps that – his reps were walkthrough. He didn’t get live reps – we had to back off on some things. I like his intensity, I like his urgency, he seems to be a pretty smart guy. There’s things he’s going to have to learn from. He’s a little bit raw. But there’s nothing that tells me, ‘Man, I don’t like this guy,’ or, ‘He’s miles away,’ or something like that.”
On the Lions being scheduled to play the Bears in Week 2 and whether he would prefer to have the game earlier or later in the season: “I’m indifferent to it. Put them where you want them – Green Bay here, Chicago here, Minnesota here, Baltimore here, Kansas City here, the Rams here. We’ve got to play them all. And we’ve got to be ready to play every one of them, one week at a time. I’m excited for the way it’s laid out. I love the home games, I love the road games, I love the night games – not as much. We’ve got some one o’clock this year, which is good. But, we’ll be ready. I don’t care how it lines up. We’ve got to be ready to go and we will be.”
On what the spring development of Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, and TE Sam LaPorta means for them: “How many ways and times can we isolate one of these guys? I think that’s what it comes down to. Alright we know we’re going to get the one-on-one with Jamo here, and these are the best routes to use him on and let him really shine and do what he does. LaPorta as well. Gibbs as well. That way, that’s fine. You want to take away (Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint? You want to take away Jamo? You take away LaPorta. Well Gibbs, here we go, here’s your three routes. Here’s what you do best. Or any of those other guys. So I think it’s not all that different from what we’ve done before, but I think so much of it will be how do we just – simple plays here and let those guys go to work. Get it in their hands and let them go to work and do what they do.”
On whether contract discussions are a part of retirement decisions and whether he believes the Lions organization would have figured out a contract with Lions C Frank Ragnow if it was a reason for retiring: “Yeah. I think if that was the deal, I think we would’ve found a way because the communication would’ve been open, and clean, and clear. But I also know (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow), and this was not about that. This was not about that.”
On Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez’s timetable to return from injury: “Yeah. He’s not going to be starting the season out. If I – conservatively, November. Or maybe that’s – yeah, that’s probably the best way to say it. Probably November. Somewhere in there.”
