Detroit Lions’ Draft Pick Ahmed Hassanein Earns Head Coach Dan Campbell’s Full Trust With Grit, Work Ethic, and Relentless Drive

When the Detroit Lions selected Ahmed Hassanein in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, reactions ranged from cautious optimism to outright confusion. Few draft analysts had projected the versatile defender to come off the board so early. But inside the walls of Allen Park, there was no hesitation. The Lions’ leadership, especially head coach Dan Campbell, saw something special in the 6-foot-3, 248-pound hybrid linebacker—a spark of authenticity and edge that fits seamlessly with the culture Campbell has built in Detroit.

Just weeks into rookie camp and offseason workouts, Hassanein hasn’t just validated the Lions’ decision—he’s become one of the early standouts of the 2025 class. And perhaps most significantly, he’s won over the man whose opinion might matter most: Dan Campbell.

“He’s one of us,” Campbell said bluntly after a recent practice. “You don’t have to wonder if he’s gonna give you everything he’s got. You feel it the moment he walks onto the field. That’s what we need. That’s what this city demands.”

For a coach who’s made his name preaching grit, physicality, and resilience, Campbell’s trust isn’t easily earned. He’s notoriously demanding of his players, especially young ones. But from the moment Hassanein entered the building, Campbell saw a player who already understood what it means to fight for everything—because he already had.

Born in Egypt and raised in New Jersey, Hassanein’s football journey is anything but conventional. He didn’t come from a powerhouse high school or a household name in college football. But what he lacked in pedigree, he made up for with raw intensity and unrelenting preparation. At Temple University, he transformed from an overlooked walk-on into one of the American Athletic Conference’s most feared edge defenders. By his senior year, he had racked up 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles—numbers that put him on the NFL radar despite playing in a mid-major conference.

What stood out most to Campbell and GM Brad Holmes wasn’t just the stats, though. It was the tape. It was the way Hassanein never took a play off. The way he chased down running backs 30 yards downfield. The way he celebrated teammates’ success like it was his own. The edge in his game mirrored the fire in his personality—unapologetically intense and ferociously committed.

“He’s got that look in his eye,” said Campbell. “You know the one. You see it and you know he’s not going to be outworked. We put him on the board in our interviews, and he owned the room. We saw a guy who was going to will his way into the rotation.”

Now, Hassanein is doing just that.

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has already begun integrating the rookie into first-team reps during minicamp, noting his explosiveness off the edge and his ability to absorb information quickly. While the Lions have established veterans like Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston in their front seven, the staff views Hassanein as a potential rotational player who can eventually develop into a starting-caliber piece.

“He’s still raw in some areas,” Glenn said. “But man, he picks things up fast. And more than that, he plays violent. He plays with an energy that affects people around him.”

That contagious energy is exactly what Campbell craves. In fact, during an early film session in rookie camp, Campbell reportedly paused a clip of Hassanein tracking down a running back on a backside pursuit drill and turned to the room with a grin.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Campbell told the room. “That right there is why we brought this guy here.”

What makes Hassanein’s early success even more impressive is that he’s not resting on his laurels. He’s the first to arrive at the facility most days, often hours before meetings begin, and has made a habit of asking veterans to stay late and help him study film. When asked what drives him, Hassanein doesn’t point to proving doubters wrong or chasing accolades. He talks about gratitude.

“I’ve been given an opportunity most people where I come from never get,” Hassanein said. “I’m not gonna waste it. I’m gonna do everything I can to repay this team for believing in me.”

That humility has gone a long way in a locker room full of blue-collar veterans. Several teammates have already praised Hassanein’s demeanor and work ethic, including Hutchinson, who said the rookie reminds him of himself as a first-year player.

“He’s got that underdog mindset,” Hutchinson said. “He doesn’t say much, just works. I like that. I think he’s gonna be a problem for offenses.”

Lions fans are already beginning to notice. At the team’s open minicamp session, several spectators pointed out Hassanein during drills, cheering as he flashed quickness off the edge and disrupted plays in the backfield. For a franchise that has made defense a priority in recent years, players like Hassanein represent a blueprint for sustainable success—low-ego, high-motor defenders who align with the hard-nosed identity Campbell has instilled.

And Campbell’s trust in him is becoming more than symbolic.

According to sources close to the team, the Lions are planning to give Hassanein snaps at multiple linebacker spots during training camp, testing his versatility and football IQ. If he continues to perform, he could carve out a significant role by midseason—not just on special teams, but in key defensive packages. That kind of trust isn’t typical for a third-round rookie, but then again, Hassanein isn’t typical.

His path to the NFL reads more like a novel than a scouting report. The son of Egyptian immigrants, Hassanein grew up balancing school, football, and part-time jobs to help his family. He didn’t play for elite youth programs or attend showcase camps. Everything he earned, he clawed for—rep by rep, season by season. That narrative resonates with Campbell, who himself was a grinder during his NFL playing days.

“You want to know why I trust him?” Campbell asked reporters. “Because he’s the kind of guy who’s not afraid to bleed for it. You can’t teach that. You either got it or you don’t.”

For now, Hassanein is focused on learning, improving, and continuing to earn his spot. But the signs are there. He’s already drawing praise from one of the league’s most no-nonsense coaches. He’s already catching the attention of teammates. And he’s already showing flashes of being a real difference-maker on the field.

In Detroit, where football is more religion than sport and toughness is worn like a badge, Hassanein is the kind of player fans can rally around. Not because he was hyped. Not because he was gifted anything. But because he came from nowhere, believed in himself, and showed up ready to work.

And if you ask Dan Campbell, that’s exactly the kind of guy you build with.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Campbell said. “But I’ll tell you this—if Ahmed keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s gonna be a big part of what we’re building here. I believe in him.”

So does Detroit.