Lions' draft pick shows he knows the way to Dan Campbell's heart (again)

While he dabbles in other genres, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell definitely tilts heavy with his musical taste. More specifically, he's an unabashed fan of Metallica. He welcomed the band to Detroit when they announced their 2023 tour, and he quoted one of their songs during a speech captured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2022 as a metaphor for the "GRIT" mentality he wants his players to maintain.

"When it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it's just a freight train coming your way, Campbell said. "So if you're seeing a f****in' light, it's a freight train. Just put your head down and go to work. It's about to be fun men. It's about to be fun."

The Lions took Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of April's draft. He has one heck of a back story, rooted in being the first Egyptian-born player ever selected in the NFL Draft. Over his final two seasons in college he posted 33 tackles for loss and 22 sacks, so he should be immediately helpful to a Lions' defensive line hat sorely needs production from edge rushers not named Aidan Hutchinson.

Ahmed Hassanein again shows he knows the way to Dan Campbell's heart

When the Lions called an understandably very emotional Hassanein to tell him they were drafting him, he dropped an all-time quote when he talked to Campbell.

"I would die for you, coach. I just wanted you to believe in me", Hassanein said. "I just wanted you to believe in me, coach. I would die on that field for you. I promise I would."

After rookie minicamp and before full-squad OTAs, Hassanein posted a collection of photos on Instagram, captioned with what Campbell said on "Hard Knocks" back in 2022.

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"There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no light. There’s a song Metallica has, ‘No Leaf Clover,’ and it says man, when it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it’s just a freight train coming your way. If you see an expletive light, it’s just a freight train. Just put your HEAD DOWN and go to WORK. It’s about to be fun.”

Hat-tip to Hassanein for censoring Campbell's use of, as some young folks might say, "the bad f-word" during that speech from training camp in 2022.

Telling his new head coach he'd die on the field for him. Quoting his new coach from nearly three years ago, which included a quote of Metallica lyrics. Hassanein clearly knows the way to Campbell's heart, and he's wasting no time getting it done.

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