As time has gone on, “Grit” has become the unofficial/basically official slogan for the Detroit Lions. It

embodies the mentality head coach Dan Campbell wants his players to have, and it’s a characteristic that

is sought in players who are drafted, signed, traded for, etc. If you don’t have “grit”, you probably can’t

be (and won’t be) a Detroit Lion.

“Salty” has suddenly surfaced another slogan for the Lions. Campbell wore a shirt with the word on it

during his press conference before Friday morning’s practice.

Here’s the video of the press conference.

When Campbell spoke “kneecap biting” at his inaugural news conference in 2021, several naysayers

perceived him as a caricature of a head coach. This interpretation of “salty” could be narrowly focused

and personal.

Dan Campbell explains meaning(s) behind “salty” slogan

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer attended Friday’s scrimmage-style practice at Allen Park. It seems that

he inquired of Campbell what the “Salty” phrase meant, as curious minds naturally wanted to know.

“He gave me an explanation of its two meanings. The first is evident: He wants a side that, as far as

everyone is aware, plays that style, with a genuine hard edge. The second is not as obvious.He desires for

men to be “salt of the earth.” It is crucial for him to maintain his team’s groundedness following last

year’s triumph, which has been comparatively simple for him to do because he has a large group of

individuals who are, well, earthly. In actuality, the labor of three recent hires—St. Brown, Jared Goff,

and Penei

Sewell—came up with everybody I spoke with, which is encouraging that the Lions will not change

despite all the attention and accolades they have received.”

The fact that Campbell desires a team with an aggressive playing style is hardly shocking. But he also

wants a club that maintains its composure in the wake of last season’s triumph, with the NFC

Championship Game’s blowout loss serving as the cornerstone of a “unfinished business” mentality that

has already permeated the team. Thus, it makes perfect sense that “Salty” has two meanings.