Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Lions HC Dan Campbell brings player to tears with post-game speech

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/19/22

Although Detroit Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper has only been in the NFL for six years, he’s already one of the more well-traveled players in the league.

A veteran of seven practice squads who’s signed more than pro 20 contracts since signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Skipper appears to have found a home, at least for right now.

"[Skipper] knows our offense in-and-out, he knows all the positions,” Campbell told reporters on Sunday. “And look, this isn’t the easiest offense to just walk right in and learn. We just felt like Skip, man, has a real good understanding of it. And we felt like even though he’s never played guard in a game, we just feel like he was going to hold up, you know. We trust him, I trust him."

Making his first NFL start, at a position that he hadn’t played since college (guard), Skipper had a strong performance in the Lions 36-27 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday that prompted a post-game atta boy from Lions head coach Dan Campbell, followed by the rest of the locker room chanting, “Skip, Skip, Skip,” which moved the 6-foot-9 lineman to tears.

6⃣th year in the @NFL, making his first career start playing position he's never played in the league. @DanSkipper70 answered the challenge. pic.twitter.com/T9RN2lmEXc
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 19, 2022

It was a moment of redemption for Skipper, who’s preseason release was captured on camera during HBO’s Hard Knocks. He ultimately signed with the Lions’ practice squad, where he remained until his shining moment on Sunday.

Helping anchor the interior of Detroit’s offensive line that has been hit hard with injuries, Skipper helped pave the way for a Lions’ rushing attack that racked up 191 yards and averaged eight yards per carry.

“It’s my sixth year in the league, and I’ve never made a team,” Skipper told reporters on Sunday. “It’s tough. You go in, and you’re never quite good enough. You’re not quite enough. You show up every day and you think you’re doing the right things and just for whatever reason, it just doesn’t quite work out. I think I’ve had 20 NFL contracts. They’re not worth the paper they’re written on.”

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