Jack Campbell didn’t take a step forward in Year 3 — he took over the Detroit Lions’ defense.
After grading most of the offense, it felt only right to turn the focus to the defensive side of the ball. And there is no better place to start than with the undisputed MVP of Detroit’s defense this season: Jack Campbell. In just his third NFL season, Campbell didn’t simply improve — he dominated. The former first-round pick delivered a breakout campaign that ended with first-team All-Pro honors and firmly cemented him as one of the league’s premier linebackers.
Campbell finished the season with 176 total tackles, the second-most in the NFL, while adding 89 solo tackles, which ranked fourth. He also recorded five sacks and three forced fumbles, showcasing a rare combination of consistency, power and playmaking ability. Nearly every major statistical category represented a career high, and his production remained steady from Week 1 through the final whistle of the season.
Few players in the league matched Campbell’s week-to-week reliability. He recorded double-digit tackles in nine games, serving as the anchor of Detroit’s defense in both run support and pass coverage. His best performance came against Dallas, when he tallied 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a statement game that highlighted his ability to take over against elite competition.
From a historical perspective, Campbell’s season was nothing short of remarkable. His 176 tackles surpassed DeAndre Levy’s 151 in 2014, giving him the second-most tackles by a Lions player in a single season since at least 1987. Campbell also became the first player in franchise history to record at least 100 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in a season since those statistics began being tracked in 1994. Simply put, Detroit had never seen a linebacker put together this type of all-around season.
Campbell’s accolades followed the production. He became just the third linebacker in Lions history to earn first-team All-Pro honors, joining elite company. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl, becoming the first Lions linebacker to receive that honor since 2000. For a franchise that has struggled to find long-term stability at the linebacker position, Campbell’s rise feels especially significant.
Consistency has been a defining trait of Campbell’s early career. He has now produced at least 125 tackles in consecutive seasons, joining Chris Spielman and Alex Anzalone as the only Lions players to accomplish that feat since 1987. Additionally, Campbell became just the second off-ball linebacker in franchise history to record at least five sacks and three forced fumbles in a single season, underscoring his ability to impact games beyond traditional tackle numbers.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Campbell’s season was how he answered the critics. When general manager Brad Holmes selected him 18th overall, the decision was met with skepticism. Drafting a linebacker that high is often questioned in today’s NFL, and Campbell entered the league with lofty expectations. This season, he erased any remaining doubt. Since tackle data began being tracked in 1999, Campbell became the first Lions player to record at least seven tackles in each of the first seven games of a season, setting the tone early and never letting up.
Campbell was the heartbeat of Detroit’s defense, consistently putting himself in position to make plays and elevating those around him. Even in his “worst” game of the season, he still managed six total tackles — a floor that many defenders would consider a strong outing.
The Lions have seen Brad Holmes draft several foundational pieces, and Campbell’s emergence as a first-team All-Pro adds another name to that growing list. His instincts, toughness and leadership have turned him into the standard for defensive play in Detroit.
When it comes time to hand out grades, there is no debate. Jack Campbell’s third season was elite by every measure. First-team All-Pro honors, historic production and unwavering consistency leave only one possible conclusion.
Final Grade: A+