Detroit HC Dan Campbell reacts to Lions winning NFC North for first time in 30 years

In 1993, Bill Clinton began his run inside the Oval Office as the 42nd president of the United States. Michael Jackson put on perhaps the greatest Super Bowl Halftime Show of all-time. Oh, and the Detroit Lions (11-4) won a division title for the fourth time in franchise history.

You see, a lot has changed over the past 30 years, though one thing has remained the same: The Lions still have four division titles under their belt. Well, that was until Sunday, when Detroit finally got over the hump as a franchise. With their 30-24 Week 16 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings (7-8), the Lions officially clinched the NFC North for yes, their first division title in three decades.

“This is special. This is special,” head coach Dan Campbell said after the game, via NFL.com. “It’s something you don’t get to do all the time. They’re always special to win a division. I don’t care how many of them you get because of the work that goes into it. But to do something that hadn’t been done in 30 years for a team is special, and that’s a special group of men back in there that are staying tame at this point.”

Lions attempting to snap another streak after clinching division

In addition to their first division title in 30 years, Detroit is headed to the postseason for the first time since 2016. It’s quite the accomplishment for the Lions and Campbell, who got off to a rocky start together. Campbell started his tenure with a 3-13-1 campaign in 2021, before getting off to a 1-6 start last season. Since then, the Lions have been one of the NFL’s best, going 19-6.

“It’s pretty exciting, man, it really is,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “It’s been a lot of hard work. A long time coming. We got a special group, man, we really do. This was hard fought. It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got it done.” 

Next up for the Lions is finding a way to win in January when it matters. Detroit is sitting on a 32-year drought of failing to notch a playoff victory but will be well positioned to do so this season. The Lions remain in play for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, right there with the San Francisco 49ers (11-3).

“It’s emotional, but it’s just the beginning for us,” Goff said. “It’s the first checkmark for us, and I get emotional thinking about all the guys that went through 3-13, went through 1-6 early last year and now can stand here NFC North champs.”