DETROIT Lions head coach Dan Campbell made a heartfelt gesture in an emotional moment during his press conference on Wednesday.
Campbell, 47, recognized there’s more than just football when talking to a reporter in a sincere moment.
During his press conference, the Lions head coach was asked about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and their Week 7 opponents.
“He’s extremely dangerous as always,” Campbell said.
“That’s not changing right now, so that focal point will always start with him, especially defensively.”
Campbell, appointed head coach of Detroit in 2021, then paused as he took a second to make eye contact with the reporter who asked the question, Bernie Smilovitz.
There was nothing out of pocket with the question asked by the weekday evening sports anchor for Local Four, but Smilovitz, a multiple-time Emmy winner, recently lost his wife.
Dr. Donna Rockwell, the reporter’s wife of 38 years, sadly tragically and unexpectedly passed away.
Smilovitz has publicly called the week the “worst week of my life.”
Campbell resumed, addressing the reporter to share his condolences.
“My heart goes out to you, man,” Campbell said.
“God bless you.”
Despite the tragedy, Smilovitz is already back on the job.
“The truth is I wrestled mightily with returning to work,” the reporter wrote on ClickOnDetroit.
It’s good to see Campbell, focused on next week’s matchup, acknowledge the catastrophe in a rare moment between coach and reporter.
In Week 7, the 5-1 NFC North-leading Lions face the Ravens this Sunday, October 22, at 1 pm ET.
