Todd Haley details Bill Parcells asking Dan Campbell to start practice fight
Todd Haley learned a lot from Bill Parcells during his time on the legendary coach's staff with the Dallas Cowboys. One of the key lessons came to him at a practice during which current Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell started a fight.
Haley recalled Dallas' practice, which was ahead of a key game against the New York Giants, was not going well. Parcells was "getting heated" on the sidelines because of the Cowboys' effort.
"He was not happy with the way anything was going," Haley told Kevin Clark on his "This is Football" podcast. "There was no energy."
Haley witnessed Parcells call over Campbell – who was then a tight end for the Cowboys – and deliver a message. Campbell ran back to the huddle while Parcells sidled up to Haley, arms crossed.
"Watch this, Todd," Parcells said, according to Haley.
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After the next play, a fight ensued. Campbell "was in the middle of it," at Parcells' request.
"As coaches, you gotta do whatever you have to do to get things going in the right direction," Haley explained of the maneuver. "[Parcells] knew that Dan was his man to get in there and stir it up."
Haley also detailed that the skirmish achieved Parcells' ultimate goal.
"All of a sudden, practice – everybody's hooping and hollering, excited," Haley said. "And good things happen from there."
Campbell has brought that same energy and feistiness to the Lions as their coach. He has a 39-28-1 record across four seasons in charge of the team, leading Detroit to an NFC championship game appearance during the 2023 NFL playoffs and the NFC's No. 1 overall seed in 2024.
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