The Lions lost both of their coordinators to head coaching positions this offseason, but Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t believe it will have a major impact in the long run.
Dan Campbell was aware this was going to happen before it actually did, and indeed, after their season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions saw both of their coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, take on head coaching roles. It’s uncommon to lose both coordinators in a single offseason, and with seven assistant coaches departing (along with additional assistants Johnson and Glenn took with them), Campbell’s staff experienced significant turnover.
As expected, no one in the Lions organization is expecting any noticeable drop-off due to the change in coordinators. New offensive coordinator John Morton was as close to an internal hire as possible, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was promoted from his previous role as linebackers coach.
Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson joined actor Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay again on “The Squeeze” podcast during Super Bowl week in New Orleans, and the episode dropped recently. Along with referencing a conversation he had with Myles Garrett at NFL Honors, Hutchinson discussed the coaching turnover the Lions experienced, acknowledging it’s a typical result when a team has significant success in the NFL and secures a top seed.
Hutchinson further explained on the podcast, “I don’t care who they bring in,” adding that it didn’t matter who was calling the plays. He even mentioned that the Lions could have “anyone” taking over those duties, and it wouldn’t make a difference. While it’s certainly one perspective, there are other ways to express the same sentiment without using those exact words. Considering his experience in the media since college, Hutchinson could have been more cautious with his phrasing in a public setting.