As time has gone on, "Grit" has become the unofficial/basically official slogan for the Detroit Lions. It embodies the mentality head coach Dan Campbell wants his players to have, and it's a characteristic that is sought in players who are drafted, signed, traded for, etc. If you don't have "grit", you probably can't be (and won't be) a Detroit Lion.
"Salty" has suddenly surfaced another slogan for the Lions. Campbell wore a shirt with the word on it during his press conference before Friday morning's practice.
Here's the video of the press conference.
"Salty" could be taken with a singular, focused meaning, with a personal tilt toward the doubters who saw Campbell as a caricature of a head coach when he talked about "kneecap biting" during his introductory press conference in 2021.
Dan Campbell explains meaning(s) behind "salty" slogan
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated was at Allen Park for Friday's scrimmage-style practice. He apparently asked Campbell about the meaning being the "Salty" slogan, which inquiring minds clearly wanted to know.
"He explained to me it has two meanings. The first one is obvious: He wants a team that plays that way, with a real hard edge, which everyone knows. The second is less apparent....He wants guys to be 'salt of the earth.' It’s important for him, as he tries to keep his team grounded after last year’s success, something that’s actually been relatively easy because he has a lot of guys who are, yes, salt of the earth. In fact, the work of three guys who just got paid—St. Brown, Jared Goff and Penei Sewell—came up with folks I talked to, which is a good sign that all the praise and hype the Lions have received won’t change them."
-Albert Breer, SI.com
It's not breaking news that Campbell wants a team that plays with an aggressive edge. But he also wants a team that stays grounded after last season's success, with the blown lead in the NFC Championship Game the pillar of an "unfinished business" mindset that has also taken hold. So the dual meanings of "Salty" make perfect sense.