Texas A&M can cross one notable name off list for HC

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas A&M can cross one notable name off list of Jimbo Fisher replacements

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/16/23

The Texas A&M Aggies are searching for a new head football coach, so it makes sense they would set the bar high and aim for a notable alumnus.

However, Aggies fans hoping the school could lure Dan Campbell away from the Detroit Lions are presumably disappointed to learn that Campbell is not interested in the job, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd.

“After backchannel communications were initiated by the Aggies, it was made clear that Campbell would be staying in the NFL with the Lions,” Dodd stated.

Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher following a 51-10 drubbing of Mississippi State on Saturday. In six seasons, Fisher led the Aggies to a 45-25 record with three bowl wins, but the school never won an SEC West Division title or competed in an SEC Championship game.

@BryanDFischer drops his top Texas A&M coaching candidates as the search begins to replace Jimbo Fisher ⤵️

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/BAOpHxwEMU
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 13, 2023

Connecting the Texas A&M vacancy to Campbell was a no-brainer considering he played four seasons as a tight end at the school from 1995 to 1998, totaling 27 receptions, 314 yards and three touchdowns over 37 games. He was a third-round pick of the New York Giants in the 1999 draft.

Landing his first NFL head coaching job in 2021, Campbell has a 19-23-1 record as the HC in Detroit, including a 7-2 mark this season for the NFC North-leading Lions. Campbell is on track to be the first head coach to lead the Lions to a division title since Wayne Fontes guided them to an NFC Central crown in 1993.

The 47-year-old Campbell isn’t the only one who’s shut down speculation that he could be linked to the school. On Monday, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning made it known that he was also not interested in the Texas A&M job.

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