Detroit coach Dan Campbell wants a pet lion. He has his reasons

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell wants a pet.

A pet he can take with him to practice.

One he can use to really motivate his players.

Definitely not a goldfish or a canary.

Not a dog or even a snake.

He wants a cat.

But not just any cat.

“I would love to literally just have a pet lion,� Campbell said Sunday on the “Pardon My Take� podcast. “Just a legit pet lion on a chain, a big-ass chain, and he really is my pet.�

He has the whole scene planned.

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“We just walk around the building, we go out to practice, we’re at 7-on-7, we’re behind the kicker when he’s kicking,� Campbell said. “We’re just, there we are.�

He added: “We would take great care of it. It would be fed well, it would be petted, it would be manicured. I might end up losing an arm because of it, but that would be even better because it would validate what, this is a freaking, this is a creature now. This is an animal. This thing, this is from the wild.�

Campbell also made it clear that a lost limb is a sacrifice he’d be willing to make in exchange for a Super Bowl win.

OK, so maybe Campbell had his tongue in cheek just a bit during the interview.

The Lions tweeted Tuesday: “Guys, coach was joking. But it’d be cool, right? Imagine the possibilities.�

Ah, yes. Just imagine Sean McVay strolling into SoFi Stadium with an actual ram.

Vic Fangio galloping into Mile High on an honest-to-goodness bronco.

David Culley showing up at NRG Stadium with a real-life Texan.

Brandon Staley arriving at SoFi with an actual charger ... actually, chances are he’s already got one of those in his car.

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But, alas, some of those scenarios aren’t likely to happen. Campbell is realistic about his plan.

“I don’t know if PETA’s going to allow that, though. It’s gonna be hard,� he said, referring to the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“I don’t think we’re going to be able to do it.�