Following the Detroit Lions’ sensational 2024 season, Dan Campbell’s coaching staff was viewed as the NFL’s ultimate dream team. Dangling lucrative offers, other NFL teams heavily recruited Detroit’s handpicked staff members. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were tapped to become head coaches in Chicago and New York. When the dust settled, a total of eight members of Campbell’s staff departed for opportunities with other NFL franchises.
Forced to rebuild after a disappointing 2025 season, Campbell now looks to recreate the magic of his former staff.
How Lions’ Dan Campbell Assembled His Best Coaching Staff For 2026
There was speculation that losing so many talented coaches at one time was a significant cause for the Lions’ disappointing 2025 season. Nonetheless, Campbell was left scrambling to fill multiple vacancies in a relatively short amount of time. Some new hires worked out well, while others didn’t. By mid-season, an already overextended Campbell was forced to take over play-calling duties from first-time OC Johnny Morton, and the search to fill Morton’s position began immediately after the Lions’ season.
Lions’ Offensive Coaches
Campbell interviewed numerous candidates, ultimately deciding on former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. However, during the search, he was very impressed with another candidate, New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, who was hired as the Lions’ Passing Game Coordinator.
Petzing and Kafka joined a well-balanced offensive group. Veterans Hank Fraley (run game coordinator/ offensive line coach), Scottie Montgomery (assistant head/wide receivers coach), and Mark Brunell (quarterbacks coach) have been instrumental in the Lions’ dramatic turnaround. Running backs coach Tashard Choice came on board last year. Former Lions’ offensive line veteran player, Dan Skipper, was hired as an offensive assistant.
Lions’ Defensive Coaches
Things are equally balanced on the defensive side with returning NFL veteran passing game coordinator and DB coach, Deshea Townsend, and second-year assistant head/safeties coach Jim O’Neil.
Now, in his second season as DC, Kelvin Sheppard feels much more comfortable. “I think it is just human nature when you have more time on task with something… You are going forward.”
After going through a season where things went sideways and he had to learn to adapt, he’s now better equipped to handle challenges. “Just having answers,” he explained, can make a big difference. Should a similar situation arise, he can remind the team, ’Oh yeah, guys, we talked about this last year, this is what we are going to do. This is how we’re going to attack that.’
Campbell, Recreating The Magic
Working collaboratively, this talented, diverse group may be the best coaching staff Campbell has ever assembled. One element that made Campbell’s 2024 coaching staff such a success was the chemistry the group shared. Everyone shared a singular vision and worked well together.
Hoping to ensure a smooth transition for the newest members and a similarly strong, cohesive group, Campbell recently organized an off-site retreat for the coaches and their wives.
“We went up to Petoskey, and that was awesome. The weather was beautiful, and the people were unbelievable. We – it was a chance to relax. Us, as coaches, I say it all the time, we are like brothers. In a lot of cases, we are around each other more than we are our wives, certainly when the season starts, that is not easy. To be able to bring the wives and all of us together and just kind of kick back, relax, enjoy the company, and really the area, it was beautiful, it was. The people are like I mentioned just man, just great people. We had a great time, and that always helps.”
Campbell, Setting the Scene for Success
Getting such a diverse group all on the same page is one of Campbell’s talents in building his staff. Rather than everyone focusing strictly on their own unit, Campbell encourages collaboration with coaches on both sides of the ball, sharing ideas and observations. He encourages the staff to freely solicit feedback from each other, as well as listen to and incorporate player suggestions.
At the OTA media session, Kafka was asked about his impression of the retreat and if he’d ever attended one previously. “No, I have not. That was really neat. That was cool.” Talking about the group’s camaraderie, he continued, “You’re getting the wives together…and then the coaches get an opportunity to do some stuff together… having some fun before the season.”
Asked about the state of the Lions’ passing attack, Kafka admitted, “You know, I think the specifics, it, as we get rolling right now, we’re still putting in the introductory part of the game plan and schemes… that will grow…But I think that what’s important is that we’re all on the same page.”
Campbell, Empowering His Staff
Campbell is also applauded for his ego-less management approach, choosing to delegate and empower his staff to make decisions and take action. Montgomery has been largely credited for the Lions’ record -breaking ground attack success. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery set single-season franchise records in 2024 with 29 combined rushing touchdowns, multiple 100-yard rushing games (16), and set an NFL single-season record for the most 100-yard rushing games with at least one rushing touchdown (15).
With Choice, previously Jahmyr Gibbs’ college coach and mentor in his second year as the running back coach, Montgomery is taking on more responsibility as associate head coach.
Asked recently about the difference between associate head coach Montgomery and assistant head coach O’Neil, Campbell explained how he is handing off more of his responsibilities to O’Neil.
“I would take a little bit off of me and probably give Jim a little bit is the best way to describe that.” O’Neil recently interviewed for the DC position with the New York Jets but ultimately decided to stay in Detroit. It was under his tutelage in 2024 that All-Pro talents Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch had breakout seasons as the top safety duo in the NFL. Branch recorded four interceptions with 16 pass defenses, while Joseph made All-Pro that year with nine interceptions and 12 PBUs.
However, Campbell clarified that Montgomery is the one he relies on most.
“Scottie is still really our – there again, he is associate head coach, but he is really the guy who is – that I put a lot on…But Jim will take on some more certainly… man, I am fortunate as the head coach to have both of them.”
Creating A Coaching Synergy
Campbell knows that the key to success comes from his staff working well together and creating a synergistic approach. Talking about Kafka’s relationship with Petzing, Campbell said, “He’s been unbelievable, he’s a thinker, he listens, he’s going to do exactly what Drew wants done, what I want done.. He’s good with the players… Think a lot of advanced scouting, division opponents, what’s coming next down the road, two, three weeks, and then give us your ideas. It’s not so much, ‘OK, this is what we’re good at,’ but, ‘How do we dress this up, how do we maximize the things we do well, and it gives us some leverage, or it gives us a matchup we want?”
Sheppard was equally complimentary in addressing how Petzing is able to help the defense. “I tell you right now, (Petzing) has come here this spring and has shown us so many different looks, things I am telling you we did not even begin to discuss until we got to the season.
Explaining the brainstorming sessions that follow, “So, just solutions, that is when Dan (Campbell) sits in with us, he’s like, ‘I am loving this because what I hear is problem solvers.’
Campbell, Assembling Lions’ Best Coaching Staff
When asked at the OTA closing media session for thoughts on the upcoming season, Campbell enthused, “Yeah, I’m excited, I am. I feel really good about where we’re at right now, knowing what we’re getting into six weeks from now. I feel really good, I feel great about the staff, and I feel like we have the right type of players that we’re going to need to rely on.”
Is this Campbell’s best staff yet? One thing is certain: Campbell has assembled a first-rate coaching staff that will once again be the envy of other NFL teams.
