The Detroit Lions just made one of the biggest off-season moves of 2025.
They added Newman University alumnus CJ Campbell ’19 as its graphic design coordinator.
Campbell, an Ohio native whose closest NFL franchise when he grew up was the Lions, is excited to take his career to the next level with a team he watched as a kid.
“My job is to work with the marketing team to shape the overall brand and perception of the organization,” Campbell said. “They have been great the past two years, so just continuing to build something special.”
The Newman graduate and former Jets baseball player has always loved sports and has worked for multiple football programs since graduating.
CJ’s journey in college athletics
First starting his career with the University of Cincinnati, Campbell knew he wanted to work in football. After his time there, he was offered a job to work for the University of Nebraska, his first blue blood football program.
“There are a lot of passionate fans with Nebraska’s fanbase,” Campbell said. “Their athletic department has a lot of amenities.”
Campbell spent four years at Nebraska, with a two-year stint in the middle at what he then considered his dream job — working with the Ohio State football program.
“I grew up watching them a lot,” Campbell said. “It was incredible.”
His time working for Ohio State allowed him the opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and College Football Playoff, before returning to Nebraska with the hope of bringing the winning culture back with him.
Campbell credits Newman with more than just preparing him for his successful career; he says he wouldn’t be alive without the university.
“My parents met in Merlini Hall at Newman in 1983,” Campbell said. “The fact that I was also able to attend there for four years was incredible.”
A person-first campus and transformative college experience
Campbell says that Newman was the perfect place for him.
“I look back at my time there and am so glad God put me here,” Campbell said. “It has impacted my family’s life.”
During his time as a student, Campbell majored in sports communication and minored in art, crediting the late professor Suzanne Berg for shaping him into what he is today.
“She was such a great mentor,” Campbell said. “I was super grateful for her feedback. She told me not to worry about what anyone else thinks about my art,” Campbell said. “Everybody in class was better than me and I felt like I didn’t belong, but everyone embraced me and I got better as a result.”
Campbell said the classroom sizes and relationships with his professors at Newman set him up for success.
“I really got to know my professors. They really, really cared,” Campbell said. “Positive reinforcement was omnipresent during my time at Newman.”
Campbell heard about the job opening with the Detroit Lions when a friend sent him the application link via LinkedIn. At Newman, Campbell recalled questioning why Assistant Dean for Arts and Sciences Audrey Hane, Ph.D., his former communication professor, had him create a LinkedIn page in the first place.
“Audrey was totally ahead of the game,” Campbell said. “I wouldn’t have the job with the Detroit Lions now if it wasn’t for LinkedIn.”
Faith led the way
Campbell knows he wouldn’t be here without his strong belief in God.
“If you allow him to be the foundation of your life and stop trying to control the narrative, you’d be amazed at the story he can write for you,” Campbell said.
Campbell’s actions, with the help of God’s pen, has set him up well for the proverbial next step in his career — one he hopes will be long-lasting.
“I would love to be in the NFL for the next decade, if possible,” Campbell said. “I love developing an overall look and brand for the organization. It is a gift God has given me.”
Detroit is familiar territory for Campbell and his family.
“I would drive up to Detroit all the time when I was younger, going to Tigers games and seeing other sports teams in the area,” Campbell said. “I am really excited to be back and immerse myself in the community again.”
Advice for aspiring sports creators
Campbell says he believes an essential skill to work in the sports industry is to be a great teammate.
“It is essential to work well with others and be open-minded. Be flexible,” Campbell said. “At the end of the day, when you are a creative person, you are going to need to problem solve on a daily basis.”
According to Campbell, “the more flexible you can be, the more successful and the longer career you’ll have.”
He advises people who are interested in working for a sports team to continue to develop their craft, no matter what.
“I have done this for seven years, but there are still so many things I have to do to improve myself,” Campbell said. “You have to be your own coach in a lot of ways.”
Campbell isn’t just designing graphics — he’s helping craft the future of the Detroit Lions organization, a franchise built on the mantra of “grit,” made popular by head coach Dan Campbell.
And if Campbell’s journey has proven anything, it’s that grit, determination and perseverance isn’t just a slogan — it is what he has lived by his entire career.
Sports media and promotion at Newman
Students in this cross-disciplinary program have the option of selecting a concentration in either media or entertainment and promotion.
