When Texas A&M announced the firing of Jimbo Fisher earlier this month, the immediate reaction —other than Fisher's lucrative buyout — was who would be the next Aggies head coach.
A number of college coaches have been connected to the gig for this upcoming offseason, including big names such as Oregon's Dan Lanning, Duke's Mike Elko and Washington Kalen DeBoer. However, there was one coach whose name was brought up from the NFL level: Dan Campbell.
The Lions head coach is an alum of Texas A&M. The former NFL tight end spent four seasons at College Station with the Aggies before he was drafted by the Giants. With any college coaching change, alums are always considered to be a sure-fire candidate, and it's no different with Campbell.
Detroit's head honcho has been at the helm of one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent NFL history. When Campbell took over the Lions, they were (still) among the laughingstocks of the league. However, the 47-year-old has installed a gritty culture in the Motor City, which has led to the Lions being among the best teams in the NFC this season.
MORE: When was the last time the Lions won on Thanksgiving?
With everything Campbell has done in Detroit, would the head coach consider leaving it all to return to the Aggies? Here is more information on Campbell's connection to Texas A&M.
Would Dan Campbell leave the Lions for Texas A&M?
In the days after Texas A&M fired Fisher, the topic of the next head coach was brought up to Campbell.
While the Aggies alum admitted that the program may have contacted him about the job, Campbell defiantly stated that he was not interested.
Lions HC Dan Campbell on if Texas A&M reached out:
— On3 (@On3sports) November 17, 2023
"Maybe. But that's all good. Certainly I know some people there and I love my school. That's my alma mater. I want to do anything I can to help them, but coach."https://t.co/xd7qetV6Wa pic.twitter.com/TntPOCm5nT
"Certainly, I know some people there and I love my school," Campbell said. "That's my alma mater and I want to do anything I can to help them, but coach for them."
If Campbell's own rejection wasn't enough, if you look at the full picture, a return to College Station doesn't make sense at all for Campbell.
The third-year Lions head coach has helped improve the team year over year since his arrival in Motor City. After a 3-13-1 campaign in 2021, the Lions went 9-8 last year, narrowly missing out on the postseason. Campbell received votes for Coach of the Year, including a single first-place nod.
This season, Detroit has emerged as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the NFC. The Lions enter the 2023 Thanksgiving matchup sitting in first place in the NFC North at 8-2. Only the Eagles (9-1) own a better record through the first 11 weeks.
Campbell has brought Detroit out of the pit of misery and found success with an organization marred by disappointments in years past. He has a chance to lead the Lions to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. No matter how much Campbell appreciates his alma mater, replacing Fisher would be a major step back for the former Aggie in his young coaching career.
MORE: Revisiting Dan Campbell's NFL, college playing career
Dan Campbell college stats
Campbell was at Texas A&M from 1995 to 1998, playing four seasons as both a tight end and a flanker. He appeared in a total of 48 games while at College Station on a football scholarship.
For no reason at all: Dan Campbell Texas A&M highlights pic.twitter.com/h4K6V3NwmJ
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) November 14, 2023
The Texas native did not see a prominent role until his final two seasons. As a junior and senior, he split time at tight end with Derrick Spiller.
| Season | Games | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
| 1995 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 8 | 103 | 0 |
| 1997 | 12 | 12 | 143 | 2 |
| 1998 | 13 | 7 | 68 | 1 |
Texas A&M coaching candidates to replace Jimbo Fisher
If not Campbell, then who might be in line to take Fisher's job at Texas A&M?
The Sporting News' Bill Bender mentioned the following five names as potential candidates to take over the Aggies program this offseason:
Dan Lanning, Oregon coach
Can Texas A&M pull Lanning off the West Coast? He's 19-4 at Oregon and has the Ducks in the College Football Playoff hunt. He was an assistant for four years under Kirby Smart at Georgia from 2018-21. That included three years as the defensive coordinator. Lanning, 37, also had a GA stint at Alabama. He's learned from the best, and his aggressive coaching style on both sides would be a hit in College Station. Oregon's last two head coaches were hired away by Florida State (Willie Taggart) and Miami (Mario Cristobal).
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss coach
Kiffin's contract with Ole Miss runs through the 2026 season, and this also would make a splash considering it would be a move within the SEC West. Auburn tried this with Kiffin last year, and it did not work. Kiffin is 31-15 since taking over with the Rebels in 2020. Texas A&M is 28-16 in the same stretch. Is that gap enough to take a chance on Kiffin, who continues to improve with age? At 48 years old, there are still moves to make.
MORE: Picks for college football Rivalry Week: Ohio State-Michigan, Oregon-Oregon St., more
Mike Elko, Duke coach
Elko, 46, has increased his stock in a short time at Duke, where he is 15-8 the last two seasons. The Blue Devils have proven to be capable underdogs, and Elko has used the transfer portal with great success. He has experience at Texas A&M, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2018-21. While that might be too close to Fisher, the 2021 defense ranked third in the FBS at 15.9 points per game. Elko is going to be a hot candidate for this carousel, and he makes sense for Texas A&M.
Kalen DeBoer, Washington coach
The other Pac-12 coach worth taking a look at. DeBoer is 33-8 between his stints at Washington and Fresno State, and that's after he compiled a 67-3 record at Sioux Falls before working his way through the FBS coaching ranks. Washington ranks fourth in the FBS at 41.7 points per game, and DeBoer, 49, would have the choice between the Big Ten and SEC next season. What does DeBoer want?
Jeff Traylor, UTSA coach
Traylor, 55, is not a big-time name, but he's a Texas native and has stayed in the state since 2000 with the exception of a two-year stint as an assistant at Arkansas. UTSA is 36-13 under Traylor, and the Roadrunners have averaged 33.9 points per game since he took over as head coach. Offense would not be an issue, and Traylor has earned this opportunity.
