Lions star says Dan Campbell ordered hits on Caleb Williams

The Detroit Lions secured a dramatic 23-20 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Chicago Bears, but much of the postgame chatter revolved around a moment of hard-nosed football-and the strategy behind it.

During an episode of The St. Brown Podcast on Wednesday, hosted by Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous, Amon-Ra revealed head coach Dan Campbell’s fiery instructions to his players regarding Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Williams, known for his dynamic playmaking ability, often uses the sideline as a safety net, feigning out-of-bounds runs to extend plays. According to St. Brown, Campbell had a direct message for his team when preparing for the elusive quarterback. “He goes, ‘If he does this, we’re going to hit his (expletive),'” said St. Brown, recalling Campbell’s remarks during film study. “I already warned the refs, the refs know.”

“He goes, ‘If he does this, we’re going to hit his a**. I already warned the refs, the refs know.'” Amon-Ra St. Brown said Dan Campbell told the Lions to hit Caleb Williams if he’s not clearly going out of bounds.

pic.twitter.com/lI3neK7LlI — St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) December 4, 2024

The game itself featured a critical moment when Lions linebacker Jack Campbell delivered a hard, low hit on Williams as the quarterback danced along the sideline. The collision bent Williams awkwardly, leaving him briefly shaken but able to continue. The play drew sharp reactions, with Bears players clamoring for a penalty and Lions players defending their actions

pic.twitter.com/aOhp0Q4l6V Do you think this is a dirty hit on Chicago Bears Caleb Williams — NFL Rumors (@nflrums) November 29, 2024

“Everyone on the Bears were like, ‘What the (expletive), where’s the flag,'” said St. Brown, addressing the controversy. “We’re like, bro, he came out and then came back in.”

While some labeled the hit as dirty, others blamed Williams for inviting contact by faking an out-of-bounds move before cutting back into the field of play.

The play epitomized the physical tone Dan Campbell’s Lions have embraced during their league-leading 11-1 season, extending their win streak to 10 games.

As the Bears struggle through a 4-8 season, moments like this highlight both Williams’ daring style and the risks that come with it. Meanwhile, the Lions continue to assert themselves as one of the NFC’s most formidable teams under Campbell’s no-nonsense leadership.