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Five Under-the-Radar Lions DC Candidates
The Detroit Lions will have to find a new voice to lead their defense.
With Aaron Glenn off to coach the New York Jets, Dan Campbell will be tasked with finding a new defensive coordinator for the first time in his tenure. While there are several intriguing candidates internally, headlined by linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard, the Lions could look externally as well.
The Lions have already started the process, interviewing 14-year NFL vet and Michigan native Larry Foote for the position earlier in the week.
Here are five under-the-radar candidates for the Lions to evaluate as potential defensive coordinator candidates heading into the 2025 season.
Leonhard has ties to Dan Campbell from their days together in New Orleans, and has since done a stint as a defensive coordinator and interim head coach at Wisconsin before coming back to the NFL. He just completed his first season with the Broncos under Sean Payton, where he worked closely with one of the game’s best corners in Patrick Sustain.
He spent 10 years in the NFL as a player, carving out a career after beginning his college tenure at Wisconsin as a walk-on. From that standpoint, he fits the Lions’ grit mentality and would suffice within the staff’s mold of former players.
Leonhard was known for having solid defenses at Wisconsin, and his scheme could certainly translate to the NFL. The experience with longtime coordinator Vance Joseph will only help his case.
The former head coach of Detroit’s rival Minnesota Vikings, Zimmer has experience in the NFC North. His Cowboys defense struggled in 2024, and got lit up by Detroit in Week 6, but the group dealt with several injuries.
Zimmer is known for employing an aggressive defensive style, which the Lions utilized under Aaron Glenn. With Brian Schottenheimer being named the new head coach, time will tell if Zimmer is ultimately retained on staff, and if not his experience could be valuable.