Texas A&M’s coaching search has dominated the college football news cycle the past few days, with many reporters and pundits suggesting where the Aggies may look for Jimbo Fisher’s full-time successor. One NFL head coach can reportedly be crossed off the list of possibilities.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who played at Texas A&M from 1995-to-1998, was linked to the opening. It turns out there was something to the mention of Campbell as a potential candidate, but he doesn’t appear to be coming back to College Station to lead the Aggies.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reports that Texas A&M initiated backchannel communications with Campbell. Dodd writes that it was “made clear that Campbell would be staying in the NFL.”

Beyond the alma mater appeal, it’s not hard to see why the Aggies would have interest in Campbell. The Lions have steadily improved under Campbell. After posting a 3-13-1 record in 2021, Campbell’s first year, Detroit went 9-8 last season. Entering Week 11, the Lions are currently 7-2.

Campbell has never coached at the college level. After his Texas A&M career, he played from 1999-2009. In 2010, he was a coaching intern for the Miami Dolphins and became the club’s tight ends coach the next season, eventually becoming the interim head coach in 2015. The Lions were the first team to hire Campbell as a full-time head coach.

We’ll see where Texas A&M turns with Campbell and Dan Lanning seemingly off the board.