Chris Christie rips Dan Campbell for Lions trick plays in blowout of Cowboys

You can rock the vote, but you can't rock the Dallas Cowboys without ticking an old politician off.

Chris Christie, the former Republican governor of New Jersey and former U.S. presidential candidate, blasted Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell on Thursday for running up the score against the Cowboys in last week's 47-9 victory .

"That's Dan Campbell. He's got no class, never has," Christie said Thursday on Mad Dog Unleashed radio show with Chris Russo. "So it's fine. Look, Dan Campbell, that's the way he is, and what goes around comes around."

One of the most beloved coaches in the NFL, Campbell played three seasons for the Cowboys in 2003-05 after four years with the New York Giants.

Christie was governor of New Jersey in 2010-18, home to the Giants and New York Jets, yet is a Cowboys fan "because the Giants were awful," he said in 2017, adding he watched Super Bowl V and "fell in love with Roger Staubach."

REQUIRED READING: Why Lions aren't sweating life after Aidan Hutchinson

The Lions ran three trick plays last week against the Cowboys, including a hook-and-lateral to offensive tackle Penei Sewell with a 37-9 lead. Campbell told players before the game he planned to "unload the clip" after losing to the Cowboys in disputed fashion last season.

The Cowboys beat the Lions, 20-19, in Week 17 of the 2023 season after officials erred in administering the would-be go-ahead 2-point conversion. The Lions converted the pass, but Taylor Decker was penalized for illegal touching after officials incorrectly announced Dan Skipper as the eligible receiver.

INSIDER: How Lions OL Dan Skipper became 'the most popular scrub' in football

"I just think that it's misdirected," Christie said in his radio interview. "Dan Campbell's angry because the referees got a call wrong in the game a year ago. Well, then you know, run that play on (NFL commissioner) Roger Goodell. The Cowboys had nothing to do with the play being called incorrectly. It wasn't a challenge that the Cowboys made. It was the call the referees made. The Lions got hurt by it. The Cowboys benefited by it. But now so because of that, you want to take your, you know, your peak out over that, while you're, you know, beating the hell out of these guys, and rub it in. I don't think that's what pros do, but it's his prerogative. It's the reputation that he'll carry around. And quite frankly, I think most people think that's his rep now anyway."

Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 2 p.m. Saturday at La Dona Cerveceria in Minneapolis, and 7 p.m., Monday at 24 Seconds Bar & Grill in Berkley,. Order your copy here .

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chris Christie rips Dan Campbell for Lions trick plays in blowout of Cowboys