The Dan Campbell-Jared Goff era, now entering Season 6, has been a great success for the Detroit Lions. The biggest question has become how they get over the hump to reach (or win) a Super Bowl, but they are among the most successful head coach-quarterback duos in the league over the last few years.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame has freshly ranked the head coach-quarterback duos in the NFL heading toward the 2026 season. Each duo was given a point total based on where they are ranked among their peers, so obviously a lower point total is better.
With total of 27 points, Campbell (the No. 15 head coach) and Goff (the No. 12 quarterback) came in 12th as a duo, down one spot from where they were in the same rankings last year.
"After surprisingly missing the playoffs last year, the Lions are looking to rebound. For Campbell, it’s a prove-it season. Going into 2025, Detroit had lost both coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, putting more pressure on Campbell to succeed. Instead, the offense ranked fifth in yards and points after being second and first, respectively, under Johnson, while the defense remained mediocre, sitting 18th."Â
"Goff continued putting up huge numbers with 4,564 yards and 34 touchdowns, but saw his EPA drop from +144.0 in 2024 to +79.1, still checking in fifth, however. There’s room for the Lions to shoot up the rankings, but much of that depends on Campbell’s ability to get something out of a defense that is hoping safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and do-it-all defensive back Brian Branch (Achilles) can regain their star status."
Dan Campbell and Jared Goff were outdone by thorn in their side rival duo in new HC-QB ranking
Elsewhere in the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings (Kevin O'Connell and Kyler Murray) came in at No. 20 in Verderame's ranking, while the Chicago Bears (Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams) came in at No. 9.
But the one that's really going to really rub Lions fans wrong is the Green Bay Packers. Verderame ranked Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love as the fifth-best head coach/quarterback duo in the league, and one of five teams with their coach and quarterback both in the top-10 of their peers.
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Some (ok, me) might say LaFleur has a highly "punchable face." The way he carries himself makes me glad he's not the head coach of my favorite team, or any team I have any level of affinity for.
Last September, LaFleur couldn't even be totally happy after beating the Lions at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2021. After beating the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving, when a couple controversial calls fostered the victory, LaFleur was especially smug when asked about one of those calls.
If Campbell and Goff need any extra motivation for this season, LaFleur and Love being regarded as highly as they are in this head coach-quarterback ranking could give them some.
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