Drew Brees talked about it last Sunday night, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared the message he got from the future Hall of Famer.
After the Detroit Lions latest heartbreaking loss last Sunday, head coach Dan Campbell openly cried during his postgame press conference. In his new role as an analyst for NBC, during the “Sunday Night Football” halftime show, Drew Brees talked about a message he texted Campbell.
“This man played the game like he coaches the game and I texted him after the game and said, ‘I love the way your team fought,'” Brees said during halftime of “Sunday Night Football,” where he now works as an in-studio analyst. “He texted back and I felt those emotions (from his press conference) in that text message, which was, ‘I love this team and I love the way they fight.”
Campbell confirmed earlier this week that he got the message, crediting his time in New Orleans with Brees for his becoming a full-time head coach for the first time. He also said correspondence from the future Hall of Famer is not a weekly thing.
“He doesn’t send me a text every week,” Campbell said. “I know him well and we’re friends, but I know if he’s sending me something it’s because it means something, so that’s why it kind of spoke volumes.”
Campbell and Brees were teammates for one season in 2009, and Campbell was a Saints’ assistant coach for five seasons (2016-2020) before getting the Lions’ head coaching job.
Dan Campbell shares the message he got from Drew Brees
After the loss in Minnesota: Dan Campbell said Drew Brees "shot a text to me just talking about how impressive it was. It was like, ‘My god, man, those guys are fighting – those guys are not giving up, they’re fighting.’ He goes, ‘You guys are close.’" pic.twitter.com/eOAencz1qH
— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) October 13, 2021
The Lions have lost three games by one score this season, including a history-making two on long field goals on the final play. In Week 2, they led the Green Bay Packers 17-14 at halftime. So the idea they are close is not far-fetched, even if Brees is not necessarily going to go the negative route in messages to a friend and former teammate/coach.