Detroit Lions Add Tashard Choice to Coaching Staff, Moving Scottie Montgomery to WR Role
In a major shift for their coaching staff, the Detroit Lions have brought in Tashard Choice to take the reins of their running back room. The move results in Scottie Montgomery shifting to the wide receivers coach role, a sign of the Lions’ confidence in Choice’s abilities. A former standout player at Georgia Tech, Choice brings extensive experience to the table, having developed elite talents throughout his career.
Here’s a breakdown of Choice‘s journey, both as a player and a coach, and what he brings to Detroit.
Playing Career:
A star at Lovejoy High School in Georgia, Choice initially committed to Oklahoma in 2003. After redshirting his freshman year, he was poised to start but suffered a hamstring injury early in the season. That setback opened the door for a freshman, Adrian Peterson, to step in. Peterson would go on to become a Heisman finalist. Following a season in which Choice only had 23 carries for 100 yards, he transferred to Georgia Tech, closer to his family, after receiving a medical hardship waiver.
In his first season with the Yellow Jackets, Choice had a solid performance, but it was 2006 that saw him truly shine, rushing for 1,473 yards and 12 touchdowns. He followed up with 1,379 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, and in 2008, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round.
His rookie season in the NFL was his most productive, as injuries to the Cowboys’ backfield gave him a chance to shine. He totaled 472 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries. The next year, he earned 349 rushing yards but saw his role shrink in his third season, especially after the Cowboys drafted DeMarco Murray in 2011. Choice was waived in October of that year, briefly claimed by Washington, then waived again after only one appearance. He finished his playing career in Buffalo, where he recorded 193 rushing yards in 2012. He ended his career with a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013.
Coaching Resume:
- 2016: Dallas Cowboys coaching intern
- 2017: North Texas Mean Green graduate assistant
- 2018: North Texas Mean Green running backs coach
- 2019-21: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running backs coach
- 2022-24: Texas Longhorns running backs coach
Notable Players Coached:
Choice’s coaching journey began at North Texas, where he guided a freshman Deandre Torrey, who rushed for 977 yards and 17 all-purpose touchdowns in 2017. The following year, Choice returned to his alma mater, Georgia Tech, to take over the running backs room, where Jordan Mason led the team with 899 rushing yards. Mason would go on to have a breakout season for the San Francisco 49ers in 2024.
At Texas, Choice became the driving force behind a room filled with future NFL talent. He coached Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, and Jonathon Brooks, all of whom went on to play at the highest level. Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his seasons under Choice and was selected sixth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson also had back-to-back 550-yard seasons and was drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2023, Brooks had a breakout season with 1,139 rushing yards, later being selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round. Texas also had two rising stars in Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue, with Wisner rushing for 1,064 yards and Blue contributing 730 yards. Wisner has one more year before he becomes eligible for the draft, while Blue is expected to be drafted in the mid-to-late rounds.
Additionally, Choice has a close friendship with Kelvin Sheppard, the Lions’ linebacker coach, who recently called Choice one of his best friends during an interview with FOX 2.
With this strong coaching pedigree, Tashard Choice is set to bring a wealth of experience and success to the Detroit Lions’ running back room. The future looks bright for both Choice and the team’s backfield.
