Detroit Lions News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dan Campbell 'Picked the Wrong Dude' to Lead Lions' Offense, Stephen A. Smith Says

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 7:38 PM ET

The Detroit Lions were thoroughly outclassed on the road against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field Sunday, losing 27-13 in a game that showed the Lions are beatable in a tightly packed NFC North Division after years of resounding success with Dan Campbell steering the ship as the team's head coach.

The Lions' loss included an outstanding diving catch from rookie Isaac Teslaa in the left corner of the end zone after the game was out of reach, but few offensive highlights while the game was still close.

On Monday, ESPN pundit Steven A. Smith spoke about Campbell and the Lions' rough outing in Green Bay, during which he shared his true feelings on Campbell's hiring of John Morton as offensive coordinator after Ben Johnson skipped town to the coach the Chicago Bears.

Smith Not a Fan of John Morton Hire After Green Bay Game

The Lions had 246 total yards on Sunday, twenty less than coach Matt LaFleur's Packers.

The Packers' fierce defensive trio of Lukas Van Ness, Davonte Wyatt, and Rashan Gary made life miserable for the Lions' thin offensive line while Micah Parsons bullied Lions All-Pro starting right tackle Penei Sewell in a way that Lions fans haven't seen aside from practice clips against teammate Aidan Hutchinson.

Smith called out the Lions on ESPN's 'First Take' show saying that fans should keep their eyes on head coach Dan Campbell.

"Here's where it really gets tricky," Smith said. "I think he's done an outstanding job, he was a candidate for Coach of the Year, he's done an outstanding job since he's been the head coach.

"But you had Aaron Glenn who was your offensive coordinator, who's now the head coach of the Jets, and you had Ben Johnson as your offensive coordinator who's now the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Smith brought up New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand as someone the Lions could have hired instead of current coordinator John Morton after Smith was impressed by Engstrand's offense's performance Sunday against the Steelers.

"He lost two tremendous coordinators," host Molly Qerim said about Campbell, to which Smith replied, "But he picked the wrong dude it appears (to replace Johnson), at least after Week 1."

“We gotta keep our eyes on Dan Campbell.”

Stephen A. Smith calls out the Detroit Lions’ Head Coach after their 27-13 loss to the Packers via @FirstTake pic.twitter.com/XdIyv4C8SV
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) September 8, 2025

Lions Welcome Bears Next Sunday

The Detroit Lions are preparing to welcome Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears to town next Sunday at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.

The game will mark a chance for the Lions to show their former offensive coordinator that the team's offense is still one of the NFC's best.

The Lions' offensive line depth and experience have strongly diminished since the retirement of Frank Ragnow this offseason which could be a storyline to watch as Johnson's team heads to Detroit later this week.

The Smith comments came as Detroit made an $83 million Jameson Williams decision before Week 1.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs made NFL history during the Lions' Week 1 loss to the Packers.

Smith's name has officially been added to a list of Detroit Lions doubters heading into Week 2 of the season.

Detroit will look too show what Morton can do in the play-calling department next week against a defense that likely won't put anywhere near the same type of heat and pressure on quarterback Jared Goff that the Packers did on Sunday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: