Jack Campbell’s rise in Detroit just picked up another layer.
The Lions have made the linebacker one of their captains for the 2026 season, a move that fits everything he’s already shown since arriving in the NFL. Campbell turned in a monster 2025-2026 campaign after Dan Campbell handed him the keys to the defense, and he answered with a career year: 176 total tackles, 89 of them solo, five sacks, three forced fumbles with two recoveries, and four passes defended. That production carried him to the Dick Butkus Award and an NFL All-Pro selection.
Detroit’s decision comes after locking Campbell into the future with a four-year, $81 million extension this offseason. The team had previously declined his fifth-year option because of the price tag, which would have pushed him to $21.925 million next season, more than Fred Warner’s $21 million per year, the current top salary for an NFL linebacker. Once the Lions committed to him long term, elevating him into a leadership role was the natural next step.
The team announced its captains on September 7, 2026, and Campbell’s name was right there with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who has followed his path.
Before Detroit took him with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he was already a two-year captain on Iowa’s defense. He also wears the green dot as a prototypical MIKE linebacker, relaying the coaches’ calls to the rest of the defense.
His leadership doesn’t stop on the field, either. Campbell remains deeply involved with multiple charities in the Detroit community, another reason the Lions are comfortable putting more responsibility on his shoulders.
Detroit is trying to rebound after a down 2025-2026 season, and the defense is set to be the center of that push. If the roster stays healthy, the Lions expect to be in the NFC North and playoff conversation again. The offense has some uncertainty after David Montgomery walked, but Jahmyr Gibbs is now the unquestioned lead back.
With Campbell signed long term and now officially wearing a captain’s label, Detroit has every reason to feel good about the middle of its defense. The Lions may be flying a little under the radar behind the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, but Campbell and company have the look of a unit that can make some noise.
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