Barry Sanders Discusses the ‘Phenomenal’ Job Dan Campbell Has Done Instilling New Detroit Lions Culture (Exclusive)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has helped turn his franchise into legitimate Super Bowl contenders — and Barry Sanders has taken notice.

Sanders, who was the catalyst for helping get the Lions out of the NFL doldrums in the early 1990s, has enjoyed seeing Campbell and this year's squad — which goes into their Thanksgiving Day battle with the Green Bay Packers at 8-2 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC North — do the same.

"He has done a phenomenal job here," Sanders exclusively told The Messenger about Campbell. "You look at the culture, the expectations and the winning mindset. The guys are playing hard. They've had a master plan since day one."

Specifically, the NFL Hall of Famer applauded Campbell's tenacious play-calling, which has helped turn the Lions offense into one of the most aggressive and dynamic units in the league.

"You look at his approach to going for fourth downs and things like that," he said. "That has a big impact on your team when your coach is all in with you. And we're seeing that in the results of this season."

Sanders pointed to Campbell's ability to "establish it every day in practice," which is paying dividends as the lights surrounding these season's Lions keep getting brighter and brighter.

"The conversation has really changed," Sanders noted. "Coach Campbell deserves all the credit in the world."

Now, Campbell and the Lions will attempt to win multiple playoff games in a season for the first time since 1957 — more than a decade before Sanders was even born.