Despite new league rules, Dan Campbell isn’t changing the Lions’ approach
The NFL is giving head coaches the option to hand off one of their sideline responsibilities in 2026. Dan Campbell has zero interest in doing that. And when you look at Campbell’s track record, it’s hard to argue with him.
The NFL’s new rule allowing head coaches to delegate the challenge flag to a designated sideline staff member opened a door this offseason. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell slammed it shut. Campbell announced Sunday that he will continue throwing the challenge flag himself, and his track record suggests that’s the right call for Detroit.
Campbell made his reasoning clear:
“No, I’m not, I’m not giving that flag up.” Campbell said. The buck stops with me anyway. I’m answering the questions, so why would I give it to somebody else for me to answer for somebody else? It all comes to me anyway. So yeah, that’s it.”
Campbell’s challenge flag history speaks for itself
You have to understand, this isn’t a guy who throws the flag recklessly. Let’s break it down by season.
In 2025, Campbell threw the challenge flag seven times. He got four of those overturned and three upheld. In 2024, he threw it five times with three overturned and two upheld. The 2023 season saw him throw it four times, and all four were upheld. In 2022, he threw it four times with two overturned and two upheld. And in 2021, his first year with the Lions, he threw it four times with one overturned and three upheld.
If you really want to go back, in 2015 with the Miami Dolphins, Campbell threw it three times and all three were overturned.
In total, Campbell has thrown the challenge flag 27 times in his coaching career. He’s had 13 overturned and 14 upheld. That’s a pretty solid record, and it tells you he picks his spots. He’s not going to throw the challenge flag when it doesn’t need to be thrown, and more often than not, he wins.
How Campbell compares to other coaches
For some perspective, look at Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur. He has thrown 53 challenge flags in his career. 53! He’s had 24 overturned but 29 upheld. That is a lot of challenge flags thrown. Those 29 failed challenges represent 29 timeouts LaFleur has blown. In 2025 alone, LaFleur threw it 10 times.
The big takeaway when you compare LaFleur and Campbell is volume. Campbell is selective. He trusts what he sees, makes the call, and lives with it. That kind of discipline matters when timeouts are on the line late in games.
The right move for the Lions
It just makes sense. Campbell could have handed the flag to associate head coach Scottie Montgomery or assistant head coach Jim O’Neill. He could have designated someone on his staff as the challenge specialist. But that’s not how Campbell operates. The buck stops with him, and he’s comfortable with that.
I haven’t seen reports of any other coach planning to delegate the flag either. If I were a head coach, I wouldn’t do it. Campbell’s challenge record backs up his decision, and there’s no reason to fix something that isn’t broken.
We’ll see how it plays out in 2026, but Campbell keeping the flag feels like the right call for Detroit.
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