Prior to discussing draft boards and war rooms, let’s discuss the woman who has emerged as the Lions’ most adored sideline staple and loudest unofficial spokesperson. Head coach Dan Campbell’s wife, Holly Campbell, isn’t only following along. She is directing the mood. The “two kisses before every home game” ritual? She did that. Videos of coffee dates and teacup Yorkies that go viral and humanize the NFL’s most demanding head coach? All her.

Holly has transformed over the past year from a private individual to Detroit’s most beloved behind-the-scenes hype machine. She has amassed 103K followers and is still growing. Making her the beating heart of Lions fans by posting more frequently, cheering louder, and, in times like today, uttering three-word anthems that light up the entire city.

On the morning of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions’ official Instagram fired the first shot—posting a photo of GM Brad Holmes in a sleek black hoodie branded with a bold lion and tagged: “Positional Villain.” The caption? “What’s everyone up to today?” But it wasn’t the team post that stole the spotlight. It was Holly Campbell’s response. Without fanfare, without fluff, Holly reposted the image to her story and added just three delicious words, punctuated with a chef’s kiss emoji:
“LET BRAD COOK 🥣.”

She is the one who made pregame anxiety into a widely recognised custom of love and devotion by sharing the now-famous ‘two kisses before every home game’ custom between her and Dan Campbell. “It has to be done,” Holly Campbell told Glamour about the ritual that the Campbell couple developed at the Lions’ record-breaking 2024 season. She is also the one whose Instagram account combines Yorkie cameos, Lions behind-the-scenes footage, and mocha-fueled sideline walks in an equal measure of football grit and family love. She’s the one who made fans swoon with her tribute to the ‘magical’ Detroit season, penning heartfelt captions that turned locker room dreams into community-wide hopes.

She’s posting for more than just vibes. The fans react when she shares anything, and she loves responding to them as well. “I’m having fun. I love interacting with the fans,” said Holly. Why? Holly is now the link between players, coaches, and fans and has become Detroit’s emotional gauge. It touches a different note when she supports someone. So when she authorises Brad Holmes to cook? That’s Detroit pulling up a chair to the table, fork in hand, ready to feast.

With Dan Campbell watching, Brad Holmes is set to cook on draft night

And Holmes has to deal with a kitchen like that. The Lions are the 15-2 toast of the NFC North going into the 2025 NFL Draft. Selecting 28th overall—not by chance, but because they have assembled one of the most dominant football rosters. Still, the job isn’t done.

Brad Holmes is wise enough to avoid chasing attention or filling gaps only to appease social media users. As he told the media this week, “You can get in trouble chasing needs sometimes… We make these picks for future investments.” In other words, Holmes is not interested in shortcuts. He is leaving a legacy. “There’s just a level of patience you have to (have). When you start chasing need, it’s like that need might make sense for right now at this time. We make these picks for future investments. We kind of live in a society that everything is, ‘Right now! Right now! Right now!’,” said Holmes.

Due to injuries that crippled the pass rush last season, Detroit’s greatest need is edge support. Holmes, however, is taking the long view. Even if the board doesn’t fall his way at 28, even if a top edge prospect is out of reach, he’s ready. Trade up? Perhaps. “There’s just some teams that don’t want to go that far back. It takes two. So, it’s hard to say like, ‘Man, we should do this.’ And even if we do, there’s no telling that the other team is willing to go back,” said Holmes on the chances of teams striking a deal with the Lions at the first round.

Because this draft isn’t just about getting better. It’s about getting closer. Closer to that Super Bowl the city’s been dreaming about. Closer to the full-circle moment where grit turns to glory. So tonight, when Brad Holmes steps up with that No. 28 card in hand, know this: He’s not just got the war room behind him. He’s got the Campbell clan, the Ford Field faithful—and the city’s new MVP of social media—cheering: “Let Brad cook.”