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Can the Lions Survive Their Coaching Exodus?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Luke Easterling | Last updated May 28, 2025 8:01 AM ET

Two years ago, the Detroit Lions felt like a team of destiny as they built up a three-score lead on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game.

They blew that lead, and fell just short of the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Last season, they returned with a vengeance, posting a 15-2 record and earing the top seed in the NFC side of the postseason bracket. They would squander that opportunity, as well, getting blown out at home in the divisional round by rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the upstart Washington Commanders.

Now, the Lions face the possibility that their Super Bowl window is already closing before it ever fully opened, as the offseason departure of both coordinators to head-coaching jobs of their own (offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets) has left them without critical stability in the coaching ranks.

On the latest episode of "Best Podcast Available," I talked with Carmen Vitali of Fox Sports about how the Lions will have to navigate those coaching losses as they look to bounce back from yet another disappointing postseason exit.

"They had an exodus of some really, really smart minds," Vitali said. "They didn't just lose the coordinators. They lost a lot of assistant coaches, because Aaron Glenn took some guys with him, Ben Johnson took some guys with him. But one thing the Lions did do was maintain the continuity that they could."

Some of that continuity comes in the form of Kelvin Sheppard, who has been promoted to Glenn's defensive coordinator role.

"He already has the locker room," Vitali said. "These guys love him."

Vitali pointed out that the Lions made some key additions in the offseason to improve an already talented roster, but one that struggled to maintain quality depth last season amidst a seemingly endless run of injuries.

"The moves that they made this year in the draft, getting Tyleik Williams, and the emphasis they had up front is gonna help the back level, too," Vitali said. "You need to look at the indirect benefits of picking up guys like that. Improving against the run, that's gonna help Aidan Hutchinson and the rest of that defensive line, just eating up the space that Williams can."

One thing the Lions do still have is a locker room full of experienced leaders and explosive playmakers, and a head coach that will continue to inspire the same belief in his team that helped take them from league afterthought to NFC title contender in short order.

"I trust the Lions because of the continuity they have on their roster, and they didn't lose their head coach," Vitali said. "Dan Campbell is such a big reason why that team believes in itself. I think they're gonna be okay. Whether or not they take a step back, I think that's probably inevitable."

Will the strength of the NFC North keep the Lions from earning another first-round bye this season? Can Campbell hold things together and lean on his returning players and new additions to offset the changes to the coaching staff enough to keep them in the running for a Lombardi Trophy?

Check out the full episode of BPA for the rest of the conversation, including deep-dives on every other team in the NFC North: