The Detroit Lions have emerged as one of the NFL\u2019s top teams under head coach Dan Campbell\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n
However, the Lions will face challenges in 2025 as the team works to rebuild its coaching staff after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson joined the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired by the New York Jets.<\/p>\n
As expected, these coordinators are bringing other coaches along to their new teams, and the Lions are losing tight ends coach Steve Heiden, who will follow Glenn to New York, as reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero on X.<\/p>\n
In addition, Detroit\u2019s passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is viewed as the leading candidate for the Jets’ OC position, according to Pelissero, though he hasn’t officially moved yet.<\/p>\n
Heiden began his coaching career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and spent 10 years with the organization before joining Detroit.<\/p>\n
He served as the Lions’ tight ends coach for the past two seasons and will now become the Jets\u2019 offensive line coach under Glenn.<\/p>\n
The Lions have successfully replaced both coordinators, as Campbell appointed John Morton to take over for Ben Johnson as Detroit\u2019s offensive coordinator, while Kelvin Sheppard was promoted to defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
Sheppard had been the Lions\u2019 linebackers coach for the past three seasons. While there was initial speculation that he might join Glenn in New York, Sheppard is staying in Detroit.<\/p>\n
Campbell considered several candidates for the defensive coordinator role, including Larry Foote, who has been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers\u2019 inside linebackers coach and pass game coordinator since 2022. Ultimately, the team opted to promote from within and give Sheppard the opportunity.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Jets have hired veteran coach Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
Wilks most recently served as the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 DC in 2023, where he led the team to Super Bowl LVIII before being let go in the offseason. He brings three decades of coaching experience to New York.<\/p>\n
Although the Lions are not overly concerned about their Super Bowl aspirations after losing several key staff members, it’s crucial they get their new coaching hires right.<\/p>\n
However, given Campbell\u2019s successful track record with coaching decisions, Lions fans can be confident the team will continue to remain competitive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Detroit Lions have emerged as one of the NFL\u2019s top teams under head coach Dan Campbell\u2019s guidance. However, the Lions will face challenges in 2025 as the team works to rebuild its coaching staff after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson joined the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired by the New York […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[2007,633,2566,2523],"class_list":["post-22746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions","tag-ben-johnson","tag-dan-campbell","tag-john-morton","tag-kelvin-sheppard"],"yoast_head":"\n