The Detroit Lions coaching staff has drawn plenty of praise throughout their rebuild. Third-year coach Dan Campbell has become renowned for changing the tide of the organization and its popularity is at an all-time high.
However, a big part of the team’s success is the fact that Campbell hired two solid coordinators in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Johnson has turned the Lions into a top-five offense, while Glenn’s defense is the best its been in three seasons.
Though the Lions have plenty to play for in 2023, there are eyes on what the future holds after this season. Both Johnson and Glenn will be popular names on the head coaching market when the offseason rolls around.
Both interviewed for head coaching jobs last season, and Glenn has done so each of the last two years. Campbell has always advocated for his assistants, and said Friday that the attention is good for all parties involved.
“If people are inquisitive about your staff, they’re being linked to a few things, that means that we have a healthy program. That’s what that means,” Campbell said. “To me, that means you’re doing things right. So yeah, that’s a good thing.
You want that. You want your coaches to feel like there’s opportunities out there, not only here but elsewhere.” Related: Lions Impressed with ‘Really Smooth Delivery’ of Hendon Hooker While the potential is there for Johnson and Glenn to get bigger roles next season with different teams, Campbell praised their ability to stay focused on what the Lions have in front of them.
“But at the same token, yeah, we’ve got a job to do. This is the focal point, this is the most important thing. That time will come in about two months,” Campbell explained. “But right now, man, keep your focus here and our guys have done a good job of that, our coaches have done a really good job of that. I know when things come up, my coaches let me know when things come up.
I appreciate that and we work through them, but it’s not a distraction.” Running backs coach Scottie Montgomery did not disclose when asked by reporters if Duke had approached him for their vacant head coaching position.
Montgomery played collegiately at Duke from 1996-99 and was a memberof their coaching staff from 2013-15, before accepting an opportunity to become East Carolina’s head coach. “The one thing that I will say is that my family and especially my children, they enjoy the fact that we’re in the National Football League and our offseason is a lot different,” Montgomery said.
“Our time, our communication, our ability to grow as a family is different, but at the same time there’s a lot of things to the business and how it moves. So I do love the National Football League. I worked hard to get back here, so I’m really excited about being not only in the National Football League but right here in Detroit.”
