Calls Mount Against FOX NFL Crew’s Dan Campbell Snub as Rob Gronkowski & Julian Edelman Confirm Their Choices

The 2024 NFL regular season is officially in the books, and the FOX NFL Crew has dropped their picks for the year’s best. From top rookies to comeback stories, they named the stars who dominated the league. But when fans saw that clip, they couldn’t help but notice one glaring omission: Dan Campbell. Despite leading the Lions to a playoff spot, Campbell was left out of the conversation, which got a bit of a heat in the comment box.

Campbell had been the mainstay behind the Detroit Lions’ looking aggressive through the season. Remember the Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers? The game was in its final moments. Facing a fourth-and-1 with 43 seconds remaining and the score tied at 31, the Lions held the ball on the Green Bay 21-yard line. The Packers, having exhausted their final timeout two plays before, were hoping that quarterback Jordan Love would have enough time to get the offense in field goal range, or better, after a likely chip-shot field goal attempt by Campbell’s Lions on the next play.

Normally under such circumstances, the Lions, who wound down the clock before calling a timeout, should kick a field goal. But Campbell had other plans. Quarterback Jared Goff took the snap, tripped on one of his offensive linemen, and, while falling to the ground, barely reached the ball to running back David Montgomery, whose 7-yard gain set up Jake Bates’ winning 35-yard field goal as time expired. It was Detroit’s fifth fourth-down attempt of the game and its fourth conversion.

For most teams, this level of risk would be unprecedented. For Campbell’s Lions, it has been the norm. Since he arrived in 2021, the Lions have gone for it on fourth down at the highest rate in the NFL (31.3%). That aggressiveness hasn’t shaken, even after criticism for two failed fourth-down calls in last season’s NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers. For more context, under Campbell, the Lions’ offense ranks second this season in total yards (6962). So the fans voiced their displeasure when Campbell was considered for the best coach position.

Rather, Peter Schrager went with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell for best coach, saying, “No one saw this team coming. Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, castaways on defense, and yet they’re one of the best teams in the NFC.” In his first season as head coach in 2022, O’Connell led the Vikings to 13 wins, the most by any first-year head coach in franchise history, earning the club’s first division title since 2017. O’Connell had seven players win Player of the Week awards in 2022, the most by a first-year head coach in franchise history.

The coach heavily emphasized his team becoming “situational masters” since becoming the 10th head coach in franchise history, pointing to areas that might not always be prominent on stat sheets but are crucial to winning games. Minnesota saw an immediate improvement in these areas, finishing 11-0 in one-score games during the regular season after going 5-8 in those same situations in 2021. The team also had an NFL-record-tying 10 comeback wins in 2022, including overcoming a 33-point halftime deficit in Week 15 against the Colts, the largest comeback in NFL history.

Continuing their remarkable run under O’Connell, this season the Vikings are going 34-16 in regular season. While his turnaround season deserves props, Campbell’s snub still feels like a miss, especially with how he brought that gritty Detroit vibe all season long. Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman revealed their takes for the remarkable players this year.

Rob Gronkowski showed love to rookie tight end Brock Bowers, saying, “You’re smooth, you’re effective, and you run people over, man. Keep up the good work. Love you Brock.” Julian Edelman, on the other hand, hyped Saquon Barkley as the best free agent signing, pointing out how Barkley has completely balled out in Philly this season, becoming a key part of the Eagles’ offense.

Michael Vick gave a shoutout to Sam Darnold for Comeback Player of the Year, saying, “This award is near and dear to me because I won it in 2010, so I’m going with Sam Darnold. He had a phenomenal year.” Charles Woodson rounded things out by backing the Commanders for the brightest future, saying, “Jayden Daniels is going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.” While the crew had solid picks, the Dan Campbell snub is still raising eyebrows across the league. And fans’ reaction to that is WILD!!

Fans roar for Dan Campbell as coach of the year

The FOX NFL Crew’s decision to leave Dan Campbell out of the best coach conversation has fans absolutely fired up. After leading the Lions to the playoffs with a banged-up defense, Campbell’s snub has people shaking their heads and flooding social media with reactions.

“Best coach is Dan Campbell, argue with a wall,” one fan bluntly put it. Another chimed in, “If Dan Campbell doesn’t win coach of the year, bro…” The love for Campbell runs deep, especially considering how he’s kept the Lions competitive all season long.

They have probably pulled off one of the best offenses in 2024. The Lions have won eight straight games to start 9-1 on the season for the first time since 1934. They are just the third team in the Super Bowl era with three wins of 35 or more points in their first 10 games of a season, joining Atlanta (1973) and Minnesota (1969). Campbell believes that Detroit has the fuel to be one of the best offenses in the NFL history.

“I think we have that ability, I really do. I think we have that ability,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in November when asked if this offense is as good as some of the best in history. “We have everything that we need to be potent, and like I say, I feel like we’re well-rounded.”

Considering all thes, one user shouted, making it clear who they think deserved the honor. “Best Coach! DAN CAMPBELL!! HANDS DOWN!!” The yearly snubs are frustrating fans, with one saying, “Why does Dan Campbell get snubbed every single year??“. It’s not just about winning games for Campbell—it’s about the energy and culture he’s brought to Detroit.

Some fans took direct shots at the FOX Crew’s choice of Kevin O’Connell. “Dan Campbell coach of the year. The media gets it wrong yet again,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Kevin O’Connell got embarrassed on primetime by Dan.” For the Campbell faithful, there’s no debate—he’s the guy.

Fans are rallying behind Campbell, not just for his results. But for the passion and fight he’s brought to the Lions. To them, this snub just doesn’t sit right. Thoughts?