4 veteran defensive coaches the Lions should consider adding to their staff to help Kelvin Sheppard
Adding a veteran presence could help Sheppard grow
The Detroit Lions are really building out their offensive coaching staff right now, and one of the biggest questions I keep getting is why the Lions aren’t doing anything on the defensive side of the ball.
I think the reason is that they really don’t need to. The Lions’ defensive staff is pretty well figured out, and the defense is not really the issue you think it is. Maybe some are dealing with some recency bias. The Lions’ defense got beaten up a few times recently. But really look at the full season. At one point, the Lions’ defense was one of the top units in the league. That really happened. It no longer matters if you don’t believe it.
They led the league in sacks, and they were near the top in turnovers. Then the thing that has ruined the Lions’ defense for two years in a row struck again. Injuries beat the hell out of this defense. Their entire secondary was missing for a good amount of the season. Still, the Lions were able to put forth some really good defensive performances against good offenses.
They need health more than anything else. But there is one thing that could really help, and it’s something the Lions have done before.
That’s not a bad idea. The Lions did this in the early part of the Dan Campbell era with John Fox and Dom Capers. Two former head coaches and defensive coordinators helping a first-time coordinator learn the ropes. It’s not a bad idea. Here are four guys to consider for a senior defensive assistant role:
Mark Duffner
Duffner has been coaching defenses since the 70s, and his last role in the league was the Bengals’ senior defensive assistant role from 2019 to 2024. Before that, Duffner was with Dan Campbell in Miami, where he was also Kelvin Sheppard’s linebacker coach when Sheppard was still playing. He’s never been a head coach in the NFL, and he’s only been a coordinator a couple of times, but he has a ton of experience that Sheppard can lean on.
Chuck Pagano
Now here’s a guy with head coach and defensive coordinator experience. He’s currently a senior secondary coach for the Ravens, but we don’t know if he’ll be retained on Jesse Minter’s staff. If he’s not, this is someone whom Sheppard has a lot of respect for and was Sheppard’s head coach when he played for the Colts.
Wink Martindale
Wink was just the defensive coordinator right up the street at Michigan, but Kyle Whittingham did not retain him on his staff. Most recently, he interviewed for the Jets DC job for Aaron Glenn, but a hire has not been made at this time. If Martindale doesn’t land a DC job somewhere, he could take on this role. Probably a little more of a long shot.
Rex Ryan
Now here’s a pretty long shot. We know that Ryan has expressed a desire to coach again, but would he leave the cushy TV job for anything less than a head coach or maybe a defensive coordinator job? He might if it gives him a chance to coach with his son. Seth Ryan is currently the Lions’ assistant tight ends coach. Maybe that could lure Ryan to Detroit.
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