More than 2,500 fans flocked to Allen Park on Saturday morning to get a glimpse of the Detroit Lions as they prepare for the 2023 season. Some lined up as early as 6 a.m. in the rain to get a seat for the first day of training camp open to the public.
Head coach Dan Campbell certainly happy about the support on Saturday, adding that the players do as well and that the fan support brings some energy that’s helpful to the team.
“That shows a lot about what our fanbase is about and the fact that they got our back, and they want to see it,” Campbell said. “They’re excited and so that makes us excited.”
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Much of that fan support is geared towards Campbell himself, now in his third year as head coach. Although he appreciates the support, he is humble about his celebrity status in Detroit, saying that when fans come up to him, they’re not meeting a “superstar” or “movie star.”
“I’m no different than you,” Campbell said. “I’m really not, I’m just coaching this team.”
Despite this humble approach, fans seem to love what Campbell is doing for the team and are showing out in full force in the preseason. John Barnier, in attendance Saturday, is one of those fans with whom Campbell’s words have resonated.
“Dan Campbell’s a rock star for sure,” Barnier said before referencing Campbell’s oft-remembered rant about biting opponents’ kneecaps from when he was hired. “We’re on a kneecap tour. I love his grit message and everything.”
Fans have taken to Campbell’s style off the field just as much as his work on the sidelines.
Kelly Good, a lifelong Lions fan and season-ticketholder believes the team will be able to compete against prominent teams this season in part because of Campbell.
“(He brings) crazy leadership and culture,” Good said. “He really brought the team together and he’s building a really strong culture here and that’s real important.”
The hype is certainly behind the Lions right now; they’re considered the favorites to win the NFC North and fans are buying in. The team instituted a ticket system for open camp practices, and all the tickets are already sold out.
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A training camp family reunion
Cousins Brady Breeze and Chase Cota have been playing football together their whole lives, albeit not on the same team. The two grew up playing in backyards, as they only lived miles apart in southern Oregon.
But despite just a two-year age gap, they never suited up together for the same team. In high school, Breeze moved to the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, before Cota made the South Medford team. Then, for college, Breeze headed north to Eugene to play for the Oregon Ducks; a few years later, Cota left the state for UCLA. Cota transferred to Oregon for his final year in 2022 — but Breeze was gone already, drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round in 2021.
Finally, the stars aligned in Detroit this summer. Breeze, a safety, has been with the Lions since 2021, while Cota, a wide receiver, is in his first NFL training camp.
Breeze describes Cota as a being a brother to him and said he has helped him get acquainted in Detroit.
“It’s pretty cool to be out here and be on the field with him and finally be on the same team,” Breeze said. “Went to the same college, weren’t there at the same time. Went to the same high school, weren’t there at the same time. Now we’re playing together in the NFL, and it’s a dream come true.”
The two have been taking reps against each other in practice, which gives them a bit of a competitive edge but also makes it more fun.
“It’s hilarious,” Cota said. “Like you say to your cousin, ‘Oh, I got to go crack down on 35 (Breeze’s number).’ I mean like, shoot, we’ve been doing this in the backyard our whole lives. It’s pretty fun. I love it.”
Their families are planning on coming out to the Lions preseason games next month to see them suit up in the same colors for the first time — and maybe even take the field together on special teams.