After losing to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round, the Super Bowl-candidate Detroit Lions ended their promising season on a low note. After the loss, parts of the Lions coaching staff have left the team, notably including Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson and Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn, both becoming head coaches for the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively.
Despite their recent departures, the Lions have already found their new replacements. Former Denver Broncos passing game assistant John Morton will step in as an Offensive Coordinator. Having worked with Head Coach Dan Campbell and the Lions in the past, Morton will already have a feel for the Lions system and should fit in without major concern. Morton looks to potentially be a promising coordinator after his work in Denver which saw them boast the sixth best offense in passer rating in 2023 and his refinement of players such as Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton into stars.
Most key offensive players will be returning, so the Lions offense on the surface looks very strong. On the defensive side of the ball, however, the Lions have lingering issues. After an injury-filled season which saw 21 players enter injured reserve, the Lions defense now looks to rebuild its strength after its brutal battering.
Following Glenn’s departure, linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard will step up to attempt to fix the unit. His work as linebackers coach showed promise due to his development of players such as Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell into starters and consistent play at the position even with injuries. Sheppard should be clued up about the defense’s issues and ready to address them head on. With $44-$46 Million in cap space and the 28th overall draft pick, the Lions have the resources to patch team needs and likely remain in playoff contention for the next few years despite the coaching staff overhaul.
While the coaching staff leaving may seem like a detrimental change for the team on the surface, the Lions do seem to still have a bright future ahead of them. With replacements for the staff showing promise and many players returning, the Lions could potentially have another shot at the playoffs again.
