Dan Campbell couldn’t have been that big of an asshole.
Former Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhblach is returning to the organization as a special assistant who will help with football and business-related projects.
The Lions cut Muhlbach in August, on his 40th birthday, which prompted Campbell to say a day later he was “an asshole” for the timing of the move.
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“It has been an honor and a privilege to wear the Honolulu blue and silver for the past 17 years,” Muhlbach said in a statement. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to remain with this organization that has given me so much. I’m excited about this new chapter of my career and to have the ability to continue working towards the goal of bringing a winning culture to Detroit.”
Muhlbach signed with the Lions midway through the 2004 season and played on a series of one-year deals in 2013-20.
He ranks second on the Lions’ all-time games played list with 260, behind kicker Jason Hanson, and made Pro Bowls in 2012 and 2018.
Scott Daly, who played collegiately at Notre Dame and spent three years bouncing around various pro leagues before signing in Detroit this spring, enters the season as the Lions’ long snapper.
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“We are thrilled to have Don remain an integral part of our organization, and I want to personally congratulate him on his official retirement as a player from the National Football League,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in a statement. “Don is one of the most respected players in Lions history and having him work closely with a variety of football and business departments is a tremendous benefit to our entire team. His experience and knowledge on and off the field make him an invaluable resource for our players, coaches and staff, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him back in this new role.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.