The Detroit Lions are hoping to avoid the setbacks experienced by the Eagles and Bengals after their coordinators left for head coaching jobs elsewhere in the NFL. The Lions are the third team since 2010 to lose both coordinators in the same offseason. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was appointed head coach of the New York Jets. Both Johnson and Glenn are finalists for The Associated Press 2024 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Philadelphia’s coordinators, Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon, left after the 2022 season for head coaching roles in Indianapolis and Arizona. Cincinnati’s coordinators, Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer, moved on after the 2013 season to Washington and Minnesota. Both teams experienced a drop in performance the following seasons, with the Eagles finishing second in the NFC East and losing in the wild-card round, while the Bengals finished second in the AFC North.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes expressed confidence in head coach Dan Campbell, who had been preparing for the possibility of losing both coordinators. Holmes trusts Campbell to find the right replacements for Johnson and Glenn. While there was little the Lions could do to retain their coordinators, they hope to keep other key assistants and staff members, despite interest from the Bears and Jets.
In addition to coaching staff changes, Holmes will need to make decisions on key unrestricted free agents, such as guard Kevin Zeitler and cornerback Carlton Davis. He also plans to address long-term extensions for players like safety Kerby Joseph, who could become a free agent in 2026. Holmes praised Joseph’s unique skills, noting his ability to tackle and make plays as a ball-hawk.
The Lions had a standout regular season, securing a franchise-record 15 wins, winning back-to-back division titles, and earning the No. 1 seed for the first time in team history. However, their playoff run ended prematurely with a surprising loss to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round. Holmes acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the importance of not overlooking the team’s achievements during the regular season.
