The Detroit Lions finished the 2024 season with a 15-2 record, earning the top seed in the NFC. However, their season ended in disappointment after a divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders. Now, the Lions face an uncertain future as they must replace both their offensive and defensive coordinators.
Detroit had one of the league’s top coaching staffs, with Ben Johnson leading the offense and Aaron Glenn guiding the defense. But the team’s success has led to both coordinators leaving for head coaching opportunities elsewhere.
With these departures, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is now focused on rebuilding his coaching staff. Replacing Johnson and Glenn will be a challenging task, but Campbell is determined to meet it head-on. His search for a new defensive coordinator has reportedly led him to Larry Foote, as per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz on X.
Foote recently completed his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the inside linebackers coach and pass game coordinator. He originally joined the team in 2019 as the outside linebackers coach.
Foote is most well-known for his career as a linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he spent 11 seasons and won two Super Bowls. He also earned a third championship ring in 2020 as a coach with the Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady.
The Lions could be eyeing Foote to step into the defensive coordinator role. As Detroit continues to build on its success under Campbell’s leadership, the team faces additional challenges. Johnson’s departure for the Chicago Bears and Glenn’s hiring as head coach of the New York Jets leaves the Lions with significant gaps to fill.
The coaching staff may not only lose its coordinators, but also other key coaches. Glenn could bring Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell to New York, while linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard may follow him. This exodus could further complicate Detroit’s search for replacements, as many of their internal candidates may be gone.
If that happens, Campbell will likely have to look outside the organization for help. Foote, who has 10 years of coaching experience, including a stint as an assistant linebackers coach with the Arizona Cardinals, could be a strong candidate. He has ties to Detroit, having briefly played for the Lions in 2009 before returning to Pittsburgh the following season.
