Jack Campbell’s rise hit another milestone Tuesday, when the NFL slotted the Lions linebacker at No. 88 on its Top 100 Players of 2026 list.
That marks the first time Campbell has appeared on the list, a fitting nod after a breakout 2025 season for the 2023 first-round pick. He piled up career bests across the board, finishing with 176 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles. The season earned him a Pro Bowl selection and First-Team All-Pro honors.
The league is rolling out this year’s Top 100 two players at a time, and Campbell became the first Detroit Lions player revealed on Tuesday.
What stands out most in these rankings is the player-to-player perspective, and Campbell drew plenty of it from some familiar names around the league.
LB Nakobe Dean said:
“He did a little bit of everything this year. He stopped the run effectively, pass game effectively.
He rushed the passer effectively. You can see it on the film.
He uses his length and everything to his advantage. I feel like he’s just going to continue to get better.”
DB Cooper Dejean, a fellow former Hawkeye, pointed to Campbell’s mindset and how he processes the game:
“It’s more the way he’s wired. Like the way he thinks about the game and plays the game, how aggressive he is.”
“He understands offenses really well, and that’s something I try to take from him--his film study and what he puts into the game. I learned a lot from him. I knew he’s be a great player, and he’ll be a great player for a long time.”
OT Tristan Wirfs, another former Hawkeye, offered a simple scouting report:
“Jack’s a freak. First-team All-Pro this past year, 6-foot-5, runs like a deer, hits like a train.”
Campbell was one of seven Lions players on last year’s list. The group included Penei Sewell at No.
13, Jared Goff at No. 15, Amon-Ra St.
Brown at No. 20, Jahmyr Gibbs at No.
27, Aidan Hutchinson at No. 55, Kerby Joseph at No. 71 and Sam LaPorta at No.
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