The Detroit Lions have entered the next phase of the busy NFL offseason: hiring coaches.
After losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now head coach of the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who will be the next head coach of the New York Jets, the Lions will spend the early part of the 2025 offseason searching for replacements. Head coach Dan Campbell will be looking for his third offensive coordinator and second defensive coordinator since taking over in January 2021.
The Lions have acted quickly to fill one spot on the assistant staff. After defensive line coach Terrell Williams departed to become the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator, the Lions reportedly hired Kacy Rodgers to take over. Rodgers has spent the last six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the defensive line coach, including the past three years as the defensive run game coordinator.
However, the coordinator positions are still open. Here’s a list of confirmed reports regarding the candidates being considered for the Lions’ offensive and defensive coordinator roles.
Lions Coordinator Interview Tracker
Jan. 23: Lions to interview Larry Foote for defensive coordinator
According to Dave Birkett of the Free Press, the Lions will interview Larry Foote on Friday for the defensive coordinator role. Foote, a Detroit native (from Detroit Pershing) who played for Michigan and spent one season with the Lions in 2009, is currently the linebackers coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was part of the staff that won Super Bowl 55 over Kansas City after the 2020 season.
Lions Offensive Coordinator Candidates
Birkett also listed five candidates for the offensive coordinator role, analyzing how they might fit within the Lions’ offensive scheme. Here are the top names to consider:
- Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley
- Lions pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand
- Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery
- Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon
- Former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Greg Olson
Lions Defensive Coordinator Candidates
Here are the key names for the defensive coordinator role, along with potential fits for the Lions’ defensive needs. One candidate, Rodgers, has already agreed to become the team’s new defensive line coach. The list of defensive coordinator candidates includes:
- Buccaneers linebackers coach Larry Foote
- Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard
- Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend
- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielson
- Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard
