On Wednesday night, the Detroit Lions quietly dropped a short video entitled “Jack Campbell: Under the Lights.” It’s a profile on the Lions’ starting MIKE linebacker, and gives some insight into the position and what makes him so good at it.
But what was profoundly amazing in the video is when Campbell talks about his favorite play from 2025. You’d think it would possibly be the fourth down stop he made on Lamar Jackson in their Monday night win in Baltimore, or maybe his impressive two-point conversion
stop on Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Certainly it’s got to be one of his 176 tackles, 5.0 sacks, four passes defended, or three forced fumbles.
Nope.
Jack Campbell’s favorite play from last year won’t be found on his 2025 highlight reel. You won’t find it on any highlight reel of any game. In fact, you won’t even see the play recorded on a box score.
Jack Campbell’s favorite play was when the Lions allowed a kick return touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings… but it was disallowed because of a penalty on the Vikes. Yes, you read that right. His favorite play was a touchdown scored by the Vikings that thankfully didn’t count.
I’ll let Campbell explain:
“I just remember the ball broke. There was a penalty flag, but I didn’t see it, and he ran it all the way back for a touchdown,” Campbell recalls. “I remember I gave my full effort to get him, and I didn’t get him. But, like, I just remember I just gave everything I got. Then, to have to go back out there on defense. Just something that I try to pride myself on. No matter what happens—even if the ball is on the other side of the field—I’m going to try and make the play.”
That’s right. Jack Campbell’s favorite play of his from 2025 is a tackle he didn’t make on a play that didn’t count.
If that’s not everything that Jack Campbell is about in a nutshell, I don’t know what is. He’s a full-out effort player who will do everything he can on every single down to help his team win.
“This game really means a lot to him,” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said in the video. “He takes a lot of pride in it and he walks in (with) that purpose. I’m very fortunate to have a player like that as a guy that’s leading the defense.”
And he’s pretty damn good, too.
