Why did Dan Campbell’s family sell their house and move this offseason? More details have emerged on the harassment that led his family to seek a more private residence.
Last week, news resurfaced that Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell and his family moved this past offseason, choosing to leave their Oakland County home after facing reported incidents of harassment. In the midst of that news, it was reported by FOX 2 Detroit that the harrassment went beyond the initial reports that someone sent contractors to the Campbell house after the Lions’ loss to the Cowboys in Week 16. Per the report, harassment continued after Detroit’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, and it resulted in a police report.
The Detroit Free Press did some digging thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, and now we know some details of those post-NFC Championship incidents. In short, a group of people showed up to the Campbell residence moments after the loss. Worst of all, both Campbell and his wife Holly were obviously in California for the game, leaving his high school daughter at the house alone with her boyfriend to deal with the angry fans.
Thankfully, the group of fans didn’t enter the property, but Campbell eventually told her daughter and the boyfriend to leave the house for their own safety.
The culprits appear to be a group of young, frustrated Lions fans, who blamed Campbell for the loss due to his aggressiveness on fourth down. One teen told police they were “distraught from the loss and needed to clear their heads.”
Word spread through Snapchat, with one particular post listing Campbell’s name, home address, and the caption “Dumb f— trying to go for it.” Another reportedly suggested fans go and egg his house.
In all, the police had four total reports of harassment to the Campbell family, the one after the Cowboys game and three in the wake of the NFC Championship loss. Police ultimately decided that nothing illegal was done, and no charges were pressed.
Last week, Campbell didn’t want to talk about the incidents, but praised the Lions fanbase.
“There’s nowhere that I would want to be or any other team that I would want to coach for,” Campbell said. “It’s rare to have an environment like we have and to be able to coach here, play here. And I tell our guys that all the time.”
Campbell and his family moved to an undisclosed location this past offseason.
