The Detroit Lions, under the leadership of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, have undergone a remarkable transformation. Once a struggling team, the Lions are now a serious Super Bowl contender and have clinched two consecutive division titles. However, they now face a significant challenge in maintaining that success following the departure of two key coaching staff members.
The Lions recently lost their offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has taken over as head coach of the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, now leading the New York Jets. A league executive expressed concerns about the team’s future, suggesting that Detroit might experience a decline in the upcoming season. The executive emphasized that their concerns were not about the players, but about the coaching changes.
Concerns about continuity within the Lions’ coaching staff were highlighted, with particular focus on the new offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. One executive raised doubts about whether the Lions could continue their aggressive offensive strategy that Johnson had implemented. “Johnson was a brilliant play caller who knew how to exploit the four-down game-management approach. Losing him would be comparable to the Rams losing Sean McVay,” the executive noted. Glenn, meanwhile, was praised for his ability to maximize the potential of players across the roster, particularly when the team dealt with numerous season-ending injuries last year, forcing backups to step up into important roles. The executive questioned if the Lions could maintain that level of player development under the new coordinators.
Despite these concerns, Campbell has voiced confidence in Morton and Sheppard, assuring reporters that the team will be fine moving forward. “We’ll be fine. Everybody knows how I feel about these coaches,” Campbell said. “I trust them both, and they’ve been integral parts of what we’ve built here.” Morton has been with the Lions since 2022, while Sheppard was promoted from his position as linebackers coach this offseason.
While the Lions have dominated the NFC North for two years running, their playoff performances have been disappointing. In one instance, they squandered a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship, and last year, after earning a first-round bye, they were defeated by the Washington Commanders in a 45-0 divisional-round blowout.
