In a fascinating twist of NFL history, the Detroit Lions came tantalizingly close to having a different head coach at the helm in 2021. According to a recent ESPN report by Jake Trotter, Matt Campbell—the newly appointed Penn State head coach—initially agreed to take the Lions job before making a dramatic pivot.

The revelation came as part of a deeper look into Campbell's career trajectory from Iowa State to Penn State. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Iowa State history had previously turned down overtures from powerhouse college programs like Texas and USC. But in 2021, he briefly said yes to the Lions, only to change his mind. The franchise ultimately hired Dan Campbell instead.

For Lions fans, it's hard to argue with how things turned out. Dan Campbell has transformed the franchise, leading Detroit to four consecutive winning seasons—a feat the team hadn't achieved since the early 1970s. Over five seasons, he's posted a 48-36-1 regular-season record and a 2-2 mark in the playoffs, including an NFC Championship game appearance in 2023 and the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024.

While it's impossible to predict how Matt Campbell would have fared in the Motor City, his college résumé speaks volumes. In 10 seasons at Iowa State, he became the program's all-time winningest coach with a 72-55 record. But for Lions fans, the "what if" is now just a footnote in a story that's working out beautifully.