Is Lions HC Dan Campbell's job in jeopardy?

The Detroit Lions are under pressure. It doesn't take a football expert to see that. This team has one of the best offenses in the NFL. They were top in the NFC North during the 2024-25 season and were almost unstoppable.

Then, last season, it came crashing down. The Lions went from first to last in the NFC North. It wasn't pretty. That's what happens when you lose your offensive coordinator, and a great one at that.

But the Lions are back, and head coach Dan Campbell knows this is a must-win season. He's brought on offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to shake things up. He's locked in key players, like running back Jahmyr Gibbs. They also just inked veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs to a one-year, $14.25 million deal after Teddy Bridgewater's retirement (again).

So, if the Lions lose this season, is Campbell in the hot seat?

Is Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell in the hot seat this season?

Nate Davis of USA Today has released a roster of coaches in the hot seat for 2026. 

"Whether young, old, entrenched or not, NFL head coaches know the mandate — regardless of circumstances: Win or else," Davis noted in the piece.

So, even though Campbell has totally reshaped this team, it's not a given that he'll be back. That said, Campbell managed to dodge this list.

Davis doesn't list Campbell among the 10 coaches most likely to be in the hot seat this season. That's quite a strong statement. Who did make the hot-seat cut was former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who's heading up the New York Jets for a second season. Glenn is coming off a 3-14 season.

So, Campbell is safe, even if the Lions don't do well this season, at least according to one NFL analyst. But it can't be comfortable right now in the Lions' camp, and Campbell knows that he does have to turn this around quickly.