EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Dan Campbell began his pre-practice speech on Tuesday morning by highlighting his longtime adoration for the New Orleans Saints organization.Campbell expressed his respect for the way they've built the program -- and doesn't want his team overlooking the Week 1 opponent -- as the Detroit Lions prepare to kick off the 2026 season against the Saints on Sunday."He opened this morning by talking about how not only have they had this mindset there that the defensive football and grind-it-out football is big-time in their mentality," said Scottie Montgomery, Lions associate head/wide receivers coach. "But, also, the personnel that they have that's been set by players that have been there before and that are there now and they continue that grit."Many of Campbell's thoughts, influences and coaching DNA were shaped throughout his time within the Saints organization, which he often references.Campbell spent five seasons with the Saints (2016-20) as an assistant head coach/tight ends coach before being hired as head coach of the Lions in 2021.He won his only previous game versus the Saints at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome on Dec. 3, 2023, 33-28, in a region where he describes their shrimp gumbo as being "good as gold."In New Orleans, Campbell benefited from the tutelage of former head coach Sean Payton with Mickey Loomis, serving as the executive vice president/general manager, where they captured four NFC South division titles throughout that span."It means a lot. Had it not been for my time there with that organization, it's a class act and a class organization and being with Sean Payton, obviously, I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity," Campbell said. "So, it means a ton and the environment's gotta be right."It's gotta be the right conditions and we had the right conditions, and you don't forget those and you try to carry over the things that you feel like are done right that you do right and take them to where you go, and there's a lot of similarities in that regard."The Week 1 contest at Ford Field will mark his second time facing the Saints, and Campbell says, "they have got some potency" on this year's roster despite coming off a 6-11 season.After starting with a 2-10 record last year, the Saints went 4-1 in their final five games as the defense allowed 17.6 points per game in Weeks 14-18, which was tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers during that span.Detroit is also looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season where they finished 9-8 while failing to reach the postseason for the first time since 2022.The Lions enter 2026 with high expectations, including a 40% chance to win the NFC North, per ESPN Analytics, which is the highest of any team in the division, despite finishing last in the NFC North last season.Lions assistant head coach/safeties Jim O'Neil described the team's level of excitement as being extremely high for the opening week, notably after completing "as hard of a camp as I've been around.""We got after it, and I feel that everybody got better," O'Neil said.For Campbell, it goes without saying that this Saints game means a lot. Although he's respectful of the opponent, he's done everything throughout training camp to make sure "we'll be ready to go" when the ball is kicked off.Nobody within the organization wants to let him down while going against his former team, either."There is a certain level of heightening of awareness from assistants to make sure we give our head football coach the best opportunity we can and our program and the organization the best chance we have to go win this game," Montgomery said.
