Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes of the Detroit Lions are named Sporting News’ coaches and executives of the year.

The Detroit Lions continue to win trophies. Dan Campbell was awarded Coach of the Year and general manager Brad Holmes the Executive of the Year for 2023 by Sporting News on Thursday. As a result of the Sporting News’ request that executives, coaches, and players cast anonymous votes and refrain from selecting teammates, Campbell and Holmes were recognized by their colleagues.

The Sporting News stated that “only head coaches were allowed to vote for Coordinator of the Year and Coach of the Year.” The only people eligible to vote for Executive of the Year were personnel decision-makers and front-office workers.”

The Lions’ executives received recognition for their vital contribution to Detroit’s best season in the previous thirty years of the team. Based on data from the publication, Campbell was the first coach from the Lions to win the Sporting News Coach of the Year award, which was first handed out in 1947. Holmes, on the other hand, is the first executive from Detroit to receive the honor since it was first given out in 1955.

Since Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane won the honor in 2022, Campbell and Holmes are the second consecutive head coach-general manager team to do so.

With a 17-point lead at halftime and a chance to make their first trip to the Super Bowl, the Lions’ two captains helped lead the team to its first postseason victory since 1991 and its first season with multiple playoff victories since 1957. However, they were unsuccessful in the NFC championship game. The Lions’ postseason triumph came after a 12-5 regular season that saw them win their division for the first time since 1993 and rekindle the fervor and hunger of their devoted fan base.

MORE STAFF NEWS: Brad Holmes’ former position coach, Terrell Williams, a DL coach, has joined the Detroit Lions’ staff. Because he was able to gain the respect of other coaches throughout the league for establishing a culture within the Lions organization, Campbell was awarded the prize over several other “strong cases.”

The Sporting News stated that “Campbell, still only 47, has gone from a former player turned coach to an inspirational, motivational maestro.” “He has a good rapport with his players and, by using his own important playing experience as inspiration, has injected some aggression and mental toughness. In a year when Kevin Stefanski, DeMeco Ryans, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, Todd Bowles, Mike Tomlin, Shane Steichen, and John Harbaugh all had compelling cases, Campbell earned a great deal of respect outside of Detroit.”

As the “architect” of Detroit’s rapid three-year turnaround since he took over in 2021, Holmes was given the honor. Along with the free-agent acquisitions he made at positions of concern, his ability to identify early contributors—including some Pro Bowl-caliber talent in the draft—helped the Lions become a contender in 2023.