The Detroit Lions have emerged as one of the top teams in the NFL with head coach Dan Campbell at the helm. Nonetheless, in 2025, the Lions will face challenges as they need to reconstruct their coaching team following the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets’ hiring of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Of course, those coordinators are bringing other coaches with them to their new roles, and the Lions are now set to lose tight ends coach Steve Heiden, who will join Glenn in New York, as reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero on X. Furthermore, Detroit’s passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is viewed as the leading candidate for the Jets’ OC position, according to Pelissero. Even though he hasn’t been officially taken by Glenn just yet
Heiden began his coaching journey with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and stayed with the team for a decade before moving to Detroit. He served as the Lions’ tight ends coach for the past two seasons and is now stepping in as the Jets’ offensive line coach under Glenn.
The Lions successfully replaced both coordinators as Campbell appointed John Morton to succeed Ben Johnson as Detroit’s offensive coordinator while Kelvin Sheppard was elevated to defensive coordinator. Sheppard served as the Lions’ linebackers coach for the previous three seasons. It was first believed that he would assume the DC position under Glenn in New York, but Sheppard will remain in Detroit
Campbell spoke with multiple candidates for the defensive coordinator position, such as Larry Foote, who has served as the inside linebackers coach and pass game coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2022. In the end, the team chose to promote from inside the organization and provide Sheppard with his opportunity.
In the meantime, the Jets have appointed experienced coach Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator. Wilks most recently acted as the DC for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, leading the team to Super Bowl LVIII before being dismissed in the offseason. He brings three decades of coaching experience to New York.
Although the Lions aren’t worried about their Super Bowl opportunities diminishing after the departure of numerous key staff members, it’s crucial for the team to make the correct choices for their new coaching hires. Considering Campbell’s history of hiring, Lions fans ought to feel fairly assured that the team will keep competing at a high standard.
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