Lions coach Dan Campbell wants a pet lion at the team’s facility

There’s a lot of talk about how different the atmosphere is at Detroit Lions headquarters in Allen Park these days under new head coach Dan Campbell. In a guest appearance on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” on Monday, coach Campbell gave a great example of how much more fun and lighthearted things are compared to predecessor Matt Patricia.

Campbell, perhaps jokingly, told the hosts he wants a pet lion.

“I tell you what I’d really love to do, just in general,” Campbell declared. “I’ve talked to Sheila (Lions owner Ford Hamp) about this. I don’t think we’ll be able to do it, but I’d love to literally just have a pet lion. Just a legit pet lion on a chain, a big-ass chain.”

To the raucous approval of the hosts, Campbell continued,

“He really is my pet. We’ll just walk around the building, we go out to practice. In 7-on-7 we’re behind the kicker when he’s kicking.”

Campbell’s deadpan delivery and willingness to keep the idea rolling after some questions is such a stark contrast to how Patricia would have operated. True to his recent declaration, Campbell is making football fun again in Detroit. Even if it’s a little wacky, it’s a welcome change for the Lions.

The clip, courtesy of Barstool Detroit: