Lions coach Dan Campbell takes over acting in Applebee's series

DETROIT – It took some convincing from his wife, Holly, and daughter, Piper, before Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell reluctantly agreed to appear in an Applebee's commercial.

In the end, it was a match made in heaven.

When Campbell, the 6-foot-5 former NFL tight end, arrived on set in New Jersey for a one-day shoot in early July, he delivered a commercial that is now trending all over social media.

“It was fantastic to work with him and he was so [a] “It was natural that we did very few takes,” Joel Yashinsky, Applebee's chief marketing officer, told ESPN. “As a Lions fan, I fear he could be an actor if he wanted to, because his facial expressions, his body language, his voice, his reactions, his timing … it's impeccable. He's a natural.”

“He's as natural an actor as he is a natural head coach in the NFL, and I think that's why people responded so well to the commercial.”

Campbell is featured in a number of different spots for the brand as part of the ongoing eight-part miniseries “PRE-SEASONING – An Applebee's Training Camp,” alongside San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy and Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley. Spots will continue to be released throughout the 2024 NFL season.

The first commercial, which premiered Tuesday, featured Campbell as a waiter who interrupts customers in the middle of ordering and tells them to “cover your mouth, they might steal your order” while holding the bill pad in front of his face. Incredulous, customers follow his example and hold the menus in front of their faces as they order.

In another ad, he is seen as an assistant shift manager at Applebee's, motivating his team to achieve “another level of production.”

Dan Campbell's Applebees commercial is truly championship level: pic.twitter.com/QCIObm2aAp

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) 5 September 2024

“See, that was something I shied away from – my wife and daughter keep saying, 'You have to do it, you have to do it. Do this.' So they talked me into the Applebee's deal and I said, 'Okay, we'll do it,'” Campbell said. “Anyway, I had fun doing it, the staff and crew that worked with us were incredible. The actors were great, they made it what it is. They were incredible.”

“They made me feel good and we just did it. It's done,” he said. “Unfortunately, there's more to come, I'm afraid. They were incredible, though. They did a great job.”

Yashinsky considered Campbell's latest commercial “one of those magical moments” on camera after receiving such a positive response to the commercial.

“He's as effective an actor as he is an NFL coach and we couldn't have been more excited,” Yashinsky said. “We sat there and watched the taping and knew immediately that something special was happening. That was obviously confirmed when it launched this week and everyone reacted the way they did. That's all him.”

With the Lions considered Super Bowl contenders entering the season, several Detroit stars are featured in endorsement deals this week. Quarterback Jared Goff is featured in a national Old Spice ad and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown stars in a Little Caesars commercial with 49ers tight end George Kittle.

“He's putting Applebee's back on the map,” St. Brown said, smiling. “Maybe I need to go in there now.”

Detroit will face the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on Sunday in Week 1. It's a rematch of last season's wildcard playoffs, which the Lions won 24-23.