Monday Night Football brought more than just points from Lions territory. Holly Campbell, head coach Dan Campbell’s wife, stepped onto Ford Field rocking a black-and-white striped outfit that stopped fans mid-scroll.
The ref-inspired look hit different. She also sported leather shorts and tall boots and introduced herself as a poetic Black queen.
Social media crowned her the Lions’ twelfth man before halftime. Fans loved the energy she brought to the sidelines while Detroit dismantled Tampa Bay 24-9.
Dan Campbell’s Wife Holly Rocks Stylish Black and White Look
Dan Campbell’s wife showed up an hour before kickoff for the couple’s pregame ritual, a kiss on the field. That’s their thing. They’ve been doing it since Dan took over in 2021. If she misses a game, they FaceTime before the first snap.
But before her entry on the sideline, her social media followers saw what she put on for MNF. Sporting the referee-inspired zebra costume, she shared her stunning look in an IG story, captioning it, “Black in Black.”
The next morning, it told a different story. Holly posted an Instagram video showing their early grind: Dan behind the wheel, their cat and dog riding backseat, and a Quick Starbucks run at dawn.
Her caption described it all. She penned, “This week’s post quality courtesy of the guy who got me up at 5:45. 😵 Happy Victory Tuesday…ready or not. 😂☕️☕️☕️”
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Holly recently admitted to People Magazine that she sometimes hides in the suite bathroom during tense moments. “I’m not calm during the action,” she said. “If things are not going our way, I get sent to the bathroom.”
She watches the ESPN gamecast from the toilet, waits for crowd noise, and comes out when things flip. Friends and family enforce this. They’ll physically send her to the stall when Detroit’s struggling.
For the unversed, she’s also superstitious about her outfits. If the Lions lose, she won’t wear that outfit again for a while. But after their win over the Buccaneers, her zebra outfit is now part of the lucky rotation.
Dan Campbell Praises Patchwork Secondary After Win Over Buccaneers
Campbell, who seemingly accused the referee of lying to his face a week ago, couldn’t hide his surprise postgame.
“I had confidence,” he told reporters. “I didn’t think nine points.” The defense held Baker Mayfield and Tampa’s attack to single digits.
He then listed the names with pride and a touch of disbelief: “Arthur Maulet, Erick Hallett, Thomas Harper, Nick Whiteside, Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin.” A patchwork secondary made up of backups and journeymen. For Harper, it was his first real start; for Hallett, his first start ever.
“The game didn’t feel too big for those guys,” Campbell added. “They got in there and competed.” It was the kind of depth and effort that separates playoff teams from pretenders.
He credited defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and the staff for a sharp game plan. Tampa Bay managed just 106 yards after the catch, and Detroit missed only four tackles all night.
The defense earned game balls. The coaching staff earned respect. And Holly’s zebra fit earned its spot in the Hall of Fame.
