Dan Campbell is not a small guy. However, the Detroit Lions decided to use a comically large podium for all of their press conferences and it makes everybody who talks to reporters look microscopic in comparison.
There is absolutely zero reason for the podium to be as big as it is.
The Lions first debuted the newest addition to its media room during training camp. As soon as Campbell stepped up to the microphone, he immediately took notice of the size and said what everybody was thinking.
"This is a HUGE podium." – Dan Campbell, checking out his new Lions microphone stand pic.twitter.com/vMBy2QwGlB
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) July 24, 2024
Campbell is a massive dude. NFL rosters listed him at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds during his playing days. He’s probably closer to 260/65 today and it’s all muscle.
This podium, which has to be the largest podium in the league by a large (pun intended) margin, makes Campbell look like he is 5’11, 185. It completely dwarfs one of the biggest head coaches in all of sports.
Dan Campbell was asked about Ben Johnson’s comments about the Lions tight end room.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 2, 2024
The OC called it the best, top to bottom, TE room in his 13 years in the NFL. Campbell agrees. pic.twitter.com/YQCOYdPVu1
Other coaches on the Lions’ staff can barely see over the podium.
Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said the organization started noticing Jake Bates as soon as he began nailing field goals at Ford Field.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) July 27, 2024
When Bates visited the Lions, Fipp enjoyed the connection they made. pic.twitter.com/4KvvtxJles
Just to compare, this is the microphone stand for visiting teams at AT&T Stadium in Dallas:
The podium in Detroit does not look that big from above.
It looks ridiculous from a reporter’s perspective. One particular photo from Campbell’s presser on Sunday night is laugh-out-loud funny and went extremely viral on social media.
Naturally, the internet had a field day with the image. A Vikings fan from Ohio decreased the size of the podium and increased the size of the coach to a hilarious degree. And yet, it was still not that far off from the original so people believed it to be real.
Dan Campbell today when asked about playing the Vikings on Sunday said, "This is big boy football. Games like this are why you work so hard. I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up to a childlike figure with glowing red eyes standing at the foot of my bed saying 7 days." pic.twitter.com/Iy6dvcisZW
— The Brohioan (@TheBrohioan) October 14, 2024
Someone else decreased the size of Dan Campbell for every 100 likes on his post. The final result is glorious.
Tiny Dan Campbell 25: pic.twitter.com/u4cAEpyUBv
— Jake (@JakeAndBall) October 15, 2024
At the end of the day, Meijer has to be THRILLED with its decision to purchase ad space on the Detroit Lions’ absurdly large podium. The Michigan-based grocery store chain got its money’s worth and some.