Dan Campbell, head coach of the Detroit Lions, continues to call for a living lion as team mascot. However, the league is likely to put a stop to the 47-year-old’s request.

The fact that press appointments with Dan Campbell, head coach of the Detroit Lions, are always good for curious stories is not a new discovery. In the course of an interview with the satirical format “Pardon my Take”, Campbell now once again called for a lion on the sidelines.

The owner of the Lions, Sheila Ford Hamp, has no problem with it, however the NFL would forbid it.

Campbell expressed his desire for a live lion as a mascot in an interview with “Pardon my Take” back in 2021.

“I would love to have a lion and stroll around the practice field with it leashed. We could then, for example, stand behind the kickers as they try to kick a field goal,” he said.

He added then that the Lion’s welfare would come first as he would be fed and loved. Moreover, it would be due for a pedicure every now and then.

Lively animals not a rarity in the NFL

Although Campbell’s claim is probably tongue-in-cheek, live animals are not uncommon as team mascots in football – especially in college football.

In the NFL, the Denver Broncos have a horse running through the stadium before games, while the Seattle Seahawks have an eagle flying through the air. In the context of this, there is always criticism from animal rights activists who accuse the teams of animal cruelty.