Detroit Lions: Niners LB Fred Warner Gives Shocking Thoughts On Dan Campbell’s Practice Strategy
The Detroit Lions have struggled with injuries the past two seasons. It has sparked conversation about the teams’ practice habits. This conversation recently got a high-profile entry when San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner appeared on the “St. Brown Brothers” podcast, hosted by Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Warner offered a candid and critical take on the Detroit Lions practice habits, specifically calling out head coach Dan Campbell’s approach.
The Detroit Lions Critique: “This Ain’t Making Nobody Better”
During the podcast, the conversation turned to team injuries. Amon-Ra St. Brown noted the Lions’ consistent bad luck in that department and asked Warner if the successful 49ers team engages in live tackling during training camp.
Warner’s response was immediate and clear: “No, no, we would never do that.”
When St. Brown revealed that the Lions do, in fact, go live, Warner didn’t hold back. His critique, though playful in tone, was pointed. “See, at some point, old Dan is going to come to his senses, man, and be like, ‘Listen, this ain’t making nobody better, brother. We can still get our work in without bringing guys to the ground.’”
Fred Warner elaborated, explaining that modern practice focuses on “thudding up”—getting to the ball carrier, wrapping them up, and stopping short of taking them to the ground. He argued that the act of bringing a player down in practice is where the real injury risk lies, often due to improper or desperate tackling technique.
The Dan Campbell Coaching Philosophy: “I Need You to Trust Me”
To anyone who has followed the Lions under Dan Campbell, this approach is not a surprise. Campbell’s identity is built on toughness, grit, and physicality. His “bite their kneecaps” mantra isn’t just a soundbite; it’s a core tenet of how he builds his team. He believes that to be a physical team on Sunday, you have to practice being physical during the week.
This philosophy was famously captured during the 2022 season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” In a team meeting, Campbell directly addressed players who questioned the live tackling sessions.
“I need you to trust me. I swear to god I’m not a lunatic,” Campbell pleaded with his team. “Man, if you don’t work on tackling… what are we doing? Then we finally get to Week 8 and we come to life because we’ve got enough reps? That’s why I’m doing it… I’ve got a plan, I swear to you. All I think about is you guys.”
Campbell’s argument is that tackling is a fundamental skill that atrophies without live practice. He believes the risk of injury is outweighed by the need to be prepared for the violence of an actual NFL game. For him, it’s about building calluses so the team doesn’t have to find its footing midway through the season.
The Injury Elephant in the Room
Warner’s comments gain more weight when you look at the Lions’ injury history. The team has been plagued by injuries to key players over the past few seasons. In 2024, data showed the Lions suffered more injuries on defense than any other team when measured by adjusted games lost. The 2025 season saw a similar trend, with players like Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, and Alim McNeill missing significant time.
Correlation does not equal causation, and it’s impossible to definitively link these injuries directly to practice habits. Football is an inherently violent sport, and injuries happen. However, when a respected veteran from a successful and relatively healthy franchise like the 49ers points out a specific practice method as unnecessarily risky, it’s hard to ignore.
Amon-Ra St. Brown even added that new players who join the Lions are often shocked by the intensity, asking, “Y’all practice like that all the time?” This suggests that Detroit’s methods are an outlier in the modern NFL, where many teams have shifted toward player load management and reduced contact to keep their rosters healthy for a long season.
Finding the Right Balance
This debate gets to the heart of a central challenge for every NFL coach: how do you build a tough, physical football team without breaking it in the process?
Campbell’s method has undeniably instilled a resilient and tough-minded culture in Detroit. The team plays hard for him, and that identity starts on the practice field. On the other hand, a team’s greatest ability is availability. The best-laid schemes and most talented players are useless if they are watching from the sideline in street clothes.
At his end-of-season press conference, Campbell mentioned wanting to get back to the team’s “foundation” and “sharpen the sword” in training camp, suggesting he has no plans to ease up.
Fred Warner’s comments serve as a critical outside perspective. It’s a reminder that there are other ways to build a winning team. As the Lions look to take the next step toward becoming a true championship contender, the front office and coaching staff will have to continue evaluating if the coaching philosophy is striking the right balance between preparation and preservation.
