Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is a huge fan of Metallica. So much so a former teammate nicknamed him "Dantallica."

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"Dantallica"

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Nic Antaya/Getty Images
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If you have listened to press conferences or team pep talks from Dan Campbell coaching for the Lions or the Miami Dolphins, you can't help but notice his references to Metallica.

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Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Punter for the Houston Texans Shane Lechler and Campbell have been lifelong friends since they were roommates and teammates at Texas A&M. It was Lechler that nicknamed Campbell "Dantallica." Lechler came up with the nickname after Campbell stayed up all night in order to get tickets to a Metallica show in Houston.

Campbell Didn't Get Invited to Meet Metallica's, James Hetfield

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Gary Miller/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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One thing that Dan Campbell may never forgive his friend Shane Lechler for is the time Lechler got to meet Metallica's, James Hetfield.

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Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
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When Lechler played for the Oakland Raiders he went to dinner at teammate Robert Gallery's who owned a home in Tahoe, a place where James Hetfield also owned a home. Hetfield and his family joined the two for dinner which meant Lechler got to hang out with Campbell's hero and didn't get an invite.

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Nic Antaya/Getty Images
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Cambell said he was mad his buddy Lechler who doesn't even like Metallica got to hang out with James Hetfield. Campbell has vowed to meet Hetfield to inform him that Lechler is not a fan of the band. Nonetheless, Campbell and Lechler are the best of friends.

What are Dan Campbell's Favorite Metallica Songs?

Campbell says some of his favorite Metallica songs are Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, Unforgiven, and Nothing Else Matters for starters.

Campbell also says he wishes he could play Metallica at practices but he felt some of his players wouldn't like it and went on to say some of them probably don't even know who Metallica is.

Dan Campbell's Most Recent Metallica Drop

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Leon Halip/Getty Images
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The Detroit Lions are the NFL team for HBO's "Hard Knocks" and in just one episode coach Campbell has already referenced Metallica.

According to MLive, Campbell said this to the players,

"The last thing I'm going to say is this: There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There's a song Metallica has, 'No Leaf Clover,' and it says man when it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it's just a freight train coming your way. If you see a (expletive) light, it's just a freight train. Just put your head down and go to work. It's about to be fun, man. It's about to be fun."

 

I know James Hetfield is a Raiders fan but maybe the two teams will meet someday and Campbell will get that chance to meet Hetfield.

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