Former New Jersey governor and U.S. presidential candidate Chris Christie, a staunch Dallas Cowboys fan, was clearly not pleased after his team suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys were thoroughly outplayed in the blowout loss, and Christie, rather than focusing solely on the Cowboys’ poor performance, decided to target Lions head coach Dan Campbell for what he perceived as unsportsmanlike conduct.
During an appearance on Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Christie accused Campbell of running up the score against Dallas, claiming that the Lions coach was trying to embarrass the Cowboys after the game’s outcome had already been determined.
Christie suggested that Campbell’s actions stemmed from lingering anger over a controversial missed call during the Cowboys’ narrow 20-19 win over the Lions last season.
“That’s Dan Campbell. He’s got no class, never has,” Christie said in the now-viral interview. “It’s fine. Dan Campbell—that’s the way he is. And what goes around, comes around. I think that [Campbell’s anger at Dallas] is misdirected. Dan Campbell is angry because the referees got a call wrong in a game a year ago. Well, you know, run that play on Roger Goodell. The Cowboys had nothing to do with the play being called incorrectly.”
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Christie’s comments quickly ignited a firestorm of reactions, with many criticizing the former governor for his remarks. Critics pointed out that Christie was deflecting from the Cowboys’ poor performance and accusing Campbell of something that may not have even been intentional. Social media users didn’t hold back in expressing their thoughts, taking shots at both Christie and his loyalty to the Cowboys.
“Chris Christie is a POS Cowboy fan, slob of a politician, & he talks about having no class? GTFOH,” one user replied to a post from sports columnist Jimmy Traina.
Another fan highlighted the absurdity of Christie’s complaint, noting, “Lions beating teams so bad they have their fans crying on the radio that it’s not fair. Lions pulled all their starters in the 4th quarter with like 10 minutes still left in the game.”
Others pointed out the irony in Christie calling out Campbell’s behavior when the Cowboys’ own leadership has had its share of questionable moments. “Jerry Jones threatens to fire a radio host who asked him a question he didn’t like. But sure, it’s Dan Campbell who is classless,” another user quipped, referencing Jones’ tense relationship with the media.
Christie’s comments didn’t sit well with many NFL fans, who felt that his rant came across as sour grapes following a decisive loss. By calling out Campbell, Christie inadvertently brought more attention to his own team’s shortcomings rather than detracting from the Lions’ dominant performance.
Campbell, known for his fiery coaching style and no-nonsense approach, has been praised for revitalizing the Lions and instilling a sense of toughness in the team.
The Lions’ success this season has captured the attention of the NFL world, and their recent blowout victory over the Cowboys only solidified their place as a team on the rise.
Meanwhile, Christie’s rant seems to have done little to help the Cowboys’ cause or reputation. If anything, his outburst only added fuel to the fire for those who criticize Dallas and its fanbase for their passionate—sometimes over-the-top—reactions to losses.
As the debate rages on about whether Campbell’s actions were justified or excessive, one thing is clear: Christie’s public criticism hasn’t done much to endear him to neutral NFL fans or even fellow Cowboys supporters.
With the Lions continuing their ascent in the league, and the Cowboys facing renewed scrutiny, it seems Christie’s rant may have backfired, leaving many to wonder if he inadvertently hurt his own team’s image rather than addressing the real issues at hand.