One of the things I love about the NFL is that a good head coach can change the lives of so many people. Not only do the fans get to feel good about their team winning, but people who are connected to that head coach start to get opportunities because of it. Then before you know it, you have a coaching tree. 

Basically everyone out there is part of a coaching tree in one way or another. For Lions' head coach Dan Campbell, he's part of the Bill Parcells tree. It was Parcells that gave Campbell his start in the coaching world when he hired him in Miami after Campbell played for Parcells in Dallas. 

Campbell is also part of Sean Payton's coaching tree too since Payton hired Campbell and got him ready to be a full-fledged head coach. Payton is also part of the Parcell's coaching tree too. 

Now it would seem that Dan Campbell has his own coaching tree that's slowly forming. Right now it's kind of a baby tree, but the branches are spreading out there and the leaves are beginning to sprout. Let's take a look at what Campbell has on this tree. 

Alright, there it is. It's a beautiful tree. Maybe Andy Dufresne will hide something under that tree for Red to find before they meet up in Zihuatanejo. 

Let's talk about each part of this tree. 

Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson: We'll start with the big one. Johnson was on staff in Miami with Campbell when he was the Dolphins interim head coach. Johnson wound up in Detroit on Matt Patricia's staff, but he was one of the only guys retained when Campbell showed up. He's now the hottest head coaching candidate of the cycle for the third straight year. Maybe one of the most desired hires ever.

Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn: Glenn came over to Detroit from New Orleans with Campbell and since then Glenn has grown to be a great defensive coordinator and one of the best leaders of men in the league. He is also one of the hottest candidates for a head coaching job in this upcoming cycle.

Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach Scottie Montgomery: This one was tough. I put Montgomery on Campbell's tree because the Lions have given him the biggest job he's had in the NFL and he's expected to get some head coaching interviews because of it. Don't be surprised when this guy is leading a franchise.

Linebackers Coach Kelvin Shepperd: This was Shepperd's first coaching gig and he has making a lot of noise in the coaching world since he got the gig. If Glenn does leave, Shepperd is expected by many to be the one to take over as the Lions' new defensive coordinator. He won't level out there.

Passing Game Coordinator Tanner Engstrand: He's already got some interviews to be an offensive coordinator with three other teams last winter. He didn't get the gig, but if Johnson leaves, he could be the guy for the Lions. Even if Johnson stays, this guy will get more interviews this offseason.

Commanders Assistant Quarterback Coach David Blough: The first guy to get a job somewhere else. The interesting thing is that he was never a part of the Lions staff per se, but he was like a player/coach for the Lions on their practice squad for a while. He seemed to be leaning towards coaching for a while. This offseason he retired and now he's making noise in Washington. Big future for him.

Assistant Linebackers Coach Shaun Dion Hamilton: Hamilton was actually playing for the Lions in 2021 and Campbell saw him as such a leader that after the Lions released Hamilton, Campbell had him join the coaching staff. They see something in him. enough to send him out to be a part of the Senior Bowl coaching staff in 2023. Keep an eye on him.

Assistant Quarterbacks Coach J.T. Barrett: Barrett was with Campbell in New Orleans as a player. After Barrett got done playing in the CFL in 2022, Campbell hired him onto the staff. He's already been promoted from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach. According to Ben Johnson, Barrett, and two others have been a big part of the Lions' trick plays they've been running for years. 

Assistant Offensive Line Coach Steve Oliver: Oliver is a part of that group that Johnson was talking about. If Hank Fraley were to leave and join Johnson's staff somewhere, he could be the Lions' next offensive line coach. 

Assistant Receivers Coach Seth Ryan: The son of Rex Ryan has been making a name for himself in the coaching world. He's still got some time to grow like Oliver and Barrett, but he's also been a part of that group that helps out with the trick plays. 

Assistant Special Teams Coach Jett Modkins: He's been with the Lions since 2021 and he's been a big help to special teams coordinator Dave Fipp. This is a guy that could be a special teams coordinator for his own group sometime soon. 

One guy who will soon be on the tree: Teddy Bridgewater has a future coaching in the NFL. He has a very close relationship with Dan Campbell and that's been demonstrated by the team bringing Bridgewater back this year. We know he can coach at the high school level, but my guess is we'll find out what he can do next year when he joins the Lions' staff. I'm calling it here and now.

Former Ohio State quarterback has become a big part of the Detroit Lions trick play filled offense and could find himself as an O.C. soon

The Detroit Lions have been running all kinds of crazy plays this season and the last few seasons. The big one that has everyone talking right now is the "stumblebum" play the Lions ran on the Bears last Sunday.  The play had Lions' quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs falling over on purpose […]