Justin Jefferson, a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, criticized a Detroit Lions fan for a banner displayed at Ford Field during the Lions’ Divisional Round matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday. The sign referenced Dan Campbell’s memorable “chomp down on a kneecap” comment from his inaugural press conference as the Lions’ head coach three years ago, which was caught by NBC cameras.
Jefferson expressed his displeasure regarding the sign on Twitter, stating, “You all are astonishing for sharing this (thumbs down emoji) This is not acceptable!!”
Some fans and observers speculated that Jefferson’s reaction stemmed from recent injuries inflicted on players by Lions standout Kerby Joseph, who caused season-ending ACL tears to tight ends T.J. Hockenson (Vikings) and Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams).
When Campbell took on the role of head coach for the Lions in 2021, his phrase “strike us down, we will rise again… and nip a kneecap” gained considerable attention.
Despite facing initial mockery, Campbell and GM Brad Holmes successfully transformed the historically struggling Lions into a formidable team. The Lions recently made it to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991, following a victory over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Wild Card Weekend—marking the franchise’s first playoff win in 32 years. By defeating Tampa Bay, the Lions find themselves just one win away from possibly reaching their first Super Bowl appearance.
