The Detroit Lions have experienced significant changes to their coaching staff following their playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. Key coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, have moved on to head coaching roles, and other position coaches have left for new opportunities. This leaves Lions head coach Dan Campbell with the difficult task of rebuilding the staff in hopes of pushing Detroit to the top of the NFC.
Despite these changes, Campbell has made some key internal promotions. Kelvin Sheppard has been elevated to defensive coordinator, and Hank Fraley has taken on the role of run game coordinator. The team has also managed to retain assistant special teams coach Jeff Modkins, who, despite his long tenure with the Lions, didn’t secure a promotion elsewhere. Modkins recently interviewed for the special teams coordinator position with the San Francisco 49ers, but that job went to Brant Boyer.
Though Modkins had been a candidate for various special teams coordinator roles, including in Chicago with Johnson and in New Orleans with Glenn, he remains with Detroit for now. His work, alongside special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, has been integral to the success of the Lions’ special teams, including the impressive performance of rookie kicker Jake Bates.
With several high-profile coaching losses, the stability provided by retaining Modkins will be a welcome relief for Campbell as he continues to reshape his coaching staff for the 2025 season.
