Lions Live Coaching Tracker - 02/09/26

With the 2025 season complete, the Lions have had some turnover within their coaching ranks, but nothing like lasty year when a total of 10 assistants (Including Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson) left creating a massive void in continuity. So far this year, only two coaches are needing to be replaced, and for different reasons. In addition, Detroit Lions Chief Operation Officer Mike Disner has been linked to the open Atlanta Falcons President of Football Operations role and has an interview scheduled for 01/08/26.

UPDATE: Five Lions assistants have interviewed for open positions around the NFL so far.

John Morton

• Former Lions Offensive Coordinator -

• Fired (01/06/26)

Tyler Roehl

• Former Lions Tight Ends Coach

• Left for Iowa State to become Offensive Coordinator 12/09/25)

  
  

Mike Disner

• Lions Chief Operating Officer

• Interviewing for Atlanta Falcons President of Football Operations - 01/08/26

  • One of Five Finalists joining Matt Ryan (Heavy Favorite), Ian Cunningham (GM Favorite), Josh Williams and Brandt Tillis.

  • MATT RYAN HIRED FOR ROLE (01/10/26)

Jett Modkins

• Lions Assistant Special Teams Coordinator

• Fifth Year with Lions in Assistant Special Teams Role

• Interviewed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be their Special Teams Coordinator - 01/10/26

• Tampa Bay hired for Steelers ST Coordinator Danny Smith (01/20/26)

David Shaw

• Lions Passing Game Coordinator

• 1st Year with Lions, 10th NFL Season

• Interviewed with Tampa Bay for their Offensive Coordinator Position - 01/10/26

• Tampa Bay hired Zac Robinson as their new Offensive Coordinator - 01/22/26

• Interviewed with Lions for Offensive Coordinator position that went to Drew Petzing

Kelvin Sheppard

• Lions Defensive Coordinator

• 1st Year in role, fifth with team

• Miami Dolphins requested to interview Sheppard for their Head Coach Position

• Confirmed interview on Monday Morning 01/19/26 in-person (01/18/26)

• Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley to be their head Coach - 01/19/26

Jim O'Neil

• Lions Safeties Coach/Defensive Assistant

• 2nd Year on Lions Staff

• Prior Defensive Coordinator for the Browns and 49ers

• New York Jets Interviewed O'Neil for the Jets Defensive Coordinator Position - 01/16/26

• Lions reached deal to retain O'Neil - 01/26/26

Scottie Montgomery

• Lions Assistant Head Coach/Wide receivers Coach

• 3rd year on Lions Staff

• Prior Steelers (RB) and Colts (WR) coach

• Scheduled to interview with Baltimore Ravens for their Offensive Coordinator position - 01/26/26

• Ravens hired Bears OC Declan Doyle - 01/30/26

Known OC Replacement Candidates

Offensive Coordinator

• David Blough (01/06/26)

  • HIRED AS COMMANDERS OC (01/09/26)

  • Former lions Backup QB

  • Two years as Assistant QB Coach Washington Commanders

• Mike McDaniel (01/08/26)

  • Interviewing for HC Openings with Browns, Falcons, Titans and Ravens

  • Interviewing for OC openings with Lions, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia

  • LIONS INTERVIEW SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY 01/13/26

  • Former HC Miami Dolphins (2022-2025)

  • Former OC for 49ers (2021)

  • 42 Years Old

• Jake Peetz (01/09/26)

  • Seattle Passing Game Coordinator

  • Diverse Offensive coaching Background including several prominent Player Performances

  • 40 Years Old

• Tee Martin (01/09/26)

  • LIONS INTERVIEW SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY 01/12/26

  • Ravens QB Coach

  • 47 Years Old

  • Coached Lamar Jackson to 2023 NFL MVP

  • USC OC when St. Brown was a freshman

  • QB of 1st BCS National Champion (Tennessee Volunteers - 1998)

• Mike Kafka (01/12/26)

  • LIONS INTERVIEW SCHEULED FOR WEDNESDAY 01/14/26

  • Giants Interim Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach

  • 38 Years Old

  • Coached at KC under Andy Reid and NY Giants under Brian Daboll

  • Played in NFL as backup QB for Five years

  • LIONS HIRED KAFKA AS A HIGH-RANKING OFFENSIVE ROLE

• Zac Robinson (01/14/26)

  • LIONS INTERVEIW SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY 01/15/26

  • Former OC of Atlanta Falcons (2024-2025)

  • 39 Years Old

  • Modest Four-year NFL Career as backup QB

  • Was with Lions for just under a year (11/9/10-9/3/11)

  • Jared Goff Asst QB Coach with LA Rams in 2019 (Rams Assistant 2019-2023)

  • Coached under Sean McVay and Raheem Morris

• Arthur Smith (01/15/26)

  • Current OC for Steelers (Still under contract for one year pending Head Coaching Change)

  • 43 Years Old

  • Former head Coach Atlanta Falcons and OC of Tennessee Titans

  • Coached under Matt LaFleur, Mike Munchak, Mike Tomlin

  • Son of FedEx Founder Frederick Smith

• Drew Petzing (01/19/26)

  • LIONS HIRING CONFIRMED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES

  • Former Arizona Cardinals OC

  • 38 Years Old

  • Run First Coach who uses Balance

  • Coached under Mike Zimmer (MIN), Kevin Stefanski (CLE) and Jonathon Gannon (ARZ)

• David Shaw and Tommy Rees (01/19/26)

  • Interviewed for OC but not known until today

Tight Ends Coach

• No Known Candidates at this Time