Dan Campbell offered thoughts on most of the new Detroit Lions coaches for the 2025 season.
On Tuesday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell made his first media appearance since the team finalized their coaching staff for the 2025 season. Detroit’s staff experienced a ton of overturn, having to replace both coordinators and six additional coaches who left for promotions elsewhere. In total, the Lions hired 10 new faces for 2025, and Campbell offered his thoughts on many of them during his NFL Combine press conference.
Here’s a breakdown of what Campbell said about each coach:
New Lions OC John Morton
“When we put this thing together, he was a part of this. I felt like that was the best move for us, was to get him back here. (He’s) somebody that I have a lot of trust in (and) faith in. Goff knows (him and is) comfortable with. He’s got a good rapport with Hank (Fraley, and) Bru (Mark Brunell), and then adding the additions that we have with David Shaw — those two go way back, he and John Morton, which was big for us.”
Moving Scottie Montgomery to WR coach
“I think this is going to be great for us. Scottie is a huge asset for us, and what it does is — he’s an excellent coach, and so now he gets the whole receiver room and the pass game, as well. He’s going to be a huge part of our pass game, just like David Shaw is gonna be. But he’s going to have a huge impact. It’s been run game, running backs. He’s coaching more guys, and he’ll have a big impact on the pass game.”
RB coach Tashard Choice
“He’s probably one of the most coveted running backs coaches to come out of college in a while. He’s going to be great for those guys in the running backs room. Certainly, he’s got a rapport with Gibbs. I think Montgomery is going to like him.”
TE coach Tyler Roehl
“Young guy, Iowa State running backs coach, and then before that he was a coordinator out there at North Dakota State. Interviewed him two years ago, and I was close then. This year was the right year.”
Offensive assistants Bruce Gradkowski and Marques Tuiasosopo
“Sitting down with both of those guys, you know, I was blown away, man. They were, you know, I always think of it no different than players like those guys belong to us, you know? They belong with us. That’s how I felt with those interviews with Tuiasosopo and then Gradkowski both. It was like, man, these guys, they belong here, man. They ought to be with us, because I can just see that they’re going to take off. I think they’re going to be really good coaches for us. I think right now, Bruce will be working in the receiver room with Scotty, helping him out, and then Marques will be in there with Bru (Mark Brunell) and the quarterback room helping him out.”
Promoting Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator
“I’ve always believed that Shep could be an outstanding coach. About two years ago, I just felt like, ‘Man, this guy will be ready to be a coordinator sooner than later.’ So, AG (Aaron Glenn) and I had talked about it and tried to give him more responsibility over the last two years. With that in mind for him, that this is the next step, this is the next step. Without telling him; nothing was ever promised. I felt really good about that, like, he’s ready. He’s ready.”
DL coach Kacy Rodgers
“When I was when I was a player in Dallas, he was our assistant D-line coach. So, that was the first time I had met him, and then I coached with him with the Miami Dolphins . So, I’ve seen him coach. I know what he’s like. I know what the D-line is like with him coaching them. And so I’ve always thought really highly of him. I was fortunate to coach with he and Terrell (Williams). So when I knew there was a chance to get him, he was going to be available, it just made sense. I think he’s going to be great for our D-line. I think Hutch (Aidan Hutchinson) and those guys are going to really like him and gravitate to him. And he’s, he’s one of us; he’s about doing it the right way. Hard worker, sees the game well, understands scheme really well, and then he knows the fundamentals and grinds on those guys.”
[later]
“(Williams) is one of the best D-Line coaches in league — if not, the best. He and Kacy, I think, are one and two.”