The Detroit Lions bested the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Sunday, punching their ticket to the NFC Championship for just the second time in franchise history. The Lions, who entered the postseason with just one playoff win since 1958, have won both their playoff games and are just one victory away from a trip to Super Bowl 58. Detroit’s franchise struggles are well documented, with the team sitting near the bottom of the NFC North every year since it joined the conference in 2002. However, the team started to take a turn last season under second-year head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff.
Campbell is new to the head coaching world but helped lead the Lions to division supremacy this season, his third as a head coach. The bench boss has quickly become among the most respected head coaches ever since he famously talked about biting off kneecaps during his first-ever presser. However, one former ESPN journalist called out Campbell during his early days, believing the former New Orleans Saints tight end stole the Detroit job from more qualified, black coaches. After Sunday’s Detroit win, Jemele Hill’s tweet caught traction again for how poorly it has aged.
This is who black coaches are losing opportunities to. https://t.co/K2o4aZLJ2Q
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 21, 2021
American Sports Journalist Jamele Hill: Dan Campbell Take Continues to Age Poorly
Hill took exception to Dan Campbell’s initial press conference, where he famously ranted about the ferocious culture he would implement with the Detroit Lions. Hill reposted a clip of the Campbell interview, saying, “This is who black coaches are losing opportunities to.” Campbell has since taken the Lions to new highs.
Meanwhile, Hill left ESPN in 2018. The 48-year-old made numerous headlines during her tenure with the sports network giant, catching heat for calling former President Donald Trump a “white supremacist.” She also came under fire for criticizing Jerry Jones for threatening to bench players who kneel for the flag and for once saying, “Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim.”
Detroit Lions: Headed to NFC Title
The Lions will face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday with the trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Quarterback Jared Goff went 30-of-43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Detroit played turnover-free football while allowing just two sacks. Linebacker Derrick Barnes sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception.
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