Detroit Lions coaching staff: Who came on board as assistants to Dan Campbell, who departed

The Detroit Lions’ coaching staff has undergone the biggest changes yet this offseason under fifth-year head coach Dan Campbell.

The team saw both coordinators become head coaches elsewhere, and numerous other assistants have departed too in the days after the divisional round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ coaching staff movement so far in 2025, including those who have left, those who have joined and those have been promoted.

Since Dan Campbell’s appointment as head coach of the Detroit Lions in January 2021, the coaching staff has seen significant changes, with key assistants joining and departing over the years.

Initial Coaching Staff Under Dan Campbell

Upon his hiring, Campbell assembled a coaching staff that included:

Offensive Coordinator: Ben Johnson
Defensive Coordinator: Aaron Glenn
Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach: Duce Staley
Quarterbacks Coach: Mark Brunell
Wide Receivers Coach: Antwaan Randle El
Offensive Line Coach: Hank Fraley
Tight Ends Coach: Steve Heiden
Linebackers Coach: Kelvin Sheppard
Defensive Line Coach: Terrell Williams
Defensive Backs Coach: Deshea Townsend
Special Teams Coordinator: Dave Fipp

Departures

Over time, several assistants departed for other opportunities:

Duce Staley: Left in February 2023 to join the Carolina Panthers as the running backs coach and assistant head coach.
Ben Johnson: Departed in January 2025 to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Aaron Glenn: Left in January 2025 to assume the head coaching position with the New York Jets.
Antwaan Randle El: Departed in January 2025 for a coaching role with another NFL team.
Terrell Williams: Left in January 2025 to pursue other coaching opportunities.
J.T. Barrett (Assistant Quarterbacks Coach): Departed in January 2025 for a coaching position elsewhere.

New Additions and Promotions

To fill these vacancies, the Lions made several key hires and promotions:

John Morton: Hired as the offensive coordinator in January 2025, replacing Ben Johnson. Morton previously served as the Denver Broncos’ pass game coordinator and had a prior stint with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant in 2022.
Kelvin Sheppard: Promoted to defensive coordinator in January 2025, succeeding Aaron Glenn. Sheppard had been the Lions’ linebackers coach since 2021.
Deshea Townsend: Joined as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in February 2024. Townsend brought experience from previous coaching roles with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

These changes reflect the Lions’ ongoing efforts to build a cohesive and effective coaching staff under Dan Campbell’s leadership.