Back in 2022 the Detroit Lions drew the short straw and became the team that would be featured on HBO's Hard Knocks show over the summer. It wasn't a short straw for us though because it was awesome.
In one of the episodes, the Lions tried something different during one of their camp days. They held a player-run practice. No coaches or coordinators participated. It was all on the players.
One player stepped up big time in that player-ran practice and called every play the Lions' defense ran on that day. That guy was linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton. That day and that decision changed the course of Hamilton's entire career. It also caught Campbell and Brad Holmes' eyes.
Hamilton was new to the Lions. He had just signed with the team that March and it was looking pretty clear that he was either going to be cut or he would make the 53-man roster and be a depth guy. Hamilton was indeed cut, but the Lions told him there would be a place for him on the staff if he did not find another team to play for.
Hamilton didn't find another team to play for. He decided to retire from playing and joined the Lions staff. Since then the Linos have seen a lot in him and have continued to groom him for bigger things.
He started as a defensive assistant. In 2023 they sent him to the Senior Bowl to be a part of the coaching staff there.
Then later that summer they promoted him to assistant linebackers coach.
Last week, they promoted him to linebackers coach, replacing the promoted Kelvin Sheppard. It's a quick rise for him, and he's definitely not done yet. This guy could be the coordinator of his own defense someday, and that day might not be too far off.
It's a really good example of how Dan Campbell has been able to grow his staff and groom coaches to be ready for big things. That was what Campbell said Sean Payton did for him, now he's doing it for everyone around him. The coaching tree keeps growing around here and Hamilton is going to have a big branch on that thing someday.
