With Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson gone, we’re tracking all of the shifting parts of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 coaching staff.
We’re adjusting our 2025 NFL coaching tracker now that some of the dust has settled. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is off to be the New York Jets’ next head coach.
As the two continue to build their staff—and other teams seek out some Lions coaches—the Lions will have to adjust and find new faces for their organization. So instead of tracking the fate of the other NFL head coaching jobs, this post will now focus on the Lions’ staff: who’s in, who’s out, and who has interviewed for their coaching vacancies. We’ll keep some of the head coach information for historical tracking purposes, but we’ve pushed most of that news to the bottom of the page. The Lions-related matters are at the top of the page for your convenience.
Latest news:
1/23: Lions assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett hired as Bears QB coach
1/23: Lions WR coach Antwaan Randle El hired as Bears WR/AHC
1/23: Lions OL coach Hank Fraley to return!
1/22: Lions hiring Bucs DL coach Kacy Rodgers as new DL coach
1/22: Aaron Glenn hired as Jets head coach
1/22: Lions DL coach Terrell Williams hired as Patriots DC
- 1/21: Hank Fraley to have second interview with Seahawks
- 1/21: Jets hoping to hire Aaron Glenn on Tuesday
1/20: Ben Johnson hired as Bears head coach
Lions coaching losses
- Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Bears HC)
- Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (Jets HC)
- Assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett (Bears QB coach)
- WR coach Antwaan Randle El (Bears WR coach/assistant HC)
- DL coach Terrell Williams (Patriots DC)
Lions coaching adds:
- DL coach Kacy Rodgers (former Bucs DL coach)
Lions coaching promotions
- OL coach Hank Fraley now OL coach/run game coordinator
Lions coaching vacancies
Offensive coordinator:
- No candidates yet
Defensive coordinator:
Candidates:
- Bucs ILB coach/pass game coordinator Larry Foote (interview scheduled)
WR coach
- No candidates yet
Assistant QB coach
- No candidates yet
Lions coaches who are candidates elsewhere
Deshea Townsend (DB coach)
Teams interested:
-
San Francisco 49ers—completed interview for DC position (1/9)49ers hired Robert Saleh
Jett Modkins (Assistant Special Teams coach)
Teams interested:
- San Francisco 49ers — completed interview for special teams coordinator position (1/12)
Chris Spielman
Teams interested:
- New York Jets — Interviewed (1/11) for GM job
Head coach openings:
New Orleans Saints
- Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/10) — In-person interview (1/22)
-
Ben Johnson:Nothing yet
Interviewed candidates:
- Giants OC Mike Kafka — second interview
- Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver — second interview
- Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi
- Bills OC Joe Brady
- Eagles OC Kellen Moore
Other candidates: Former Stanford HC David Shaw (request)
Las Vegas Raiders — Hired Pete Carroll
- Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/10)
-
Ben Johnson:Interviewed (1/10) —looking to schedule an in-person interview
Interviewed candidates:
Candidates: Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo (request), Ravens OC Todd Monken (request), former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll (request)
Jacksonville Jaguars — Hired Liam Coen
- Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/11)
-
Ben Johnson:Interviewed (1/11)
Interviewed candidates:
- Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo
- Raiders DC Patrick Graham
- Former Jets HC Robert Saleh
- Bucs OC Liam Coen
- Ravens OC Todd Monken
- Vikings DC Brian Flores
- Eagles OC Kellen Moore
- Bills OC Joe Brady
Dallas Cowboys — Brian Schottenheimer
- Aaron Glenn: Interested, “Intrigued”
-
Ben Johnson:Interested
Interviewed candidates:
Candidates:
- Rumored to be interested in Colorado HC Deion Sanders
New York Jets — Hired Aaron Glenn
- Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/9) — In-person interview (1/21)
-
Ben Johnson:Not interested
Interviewed candidates:
- Former Commandes HC Ron Rivera
-
Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel— Hired by Patriots - Former Jets HC Rex Ryan
- Chiefs OC Matt Nagy
- Maryland HC Mike Locksley
- Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo
- Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi
- Interim HC Jeff Ulbrich
- Steelers OC Arthur Smith
- Broncos DC Vance Joseph
- Texans OC Bobby Slowik
- Vikings DC Brian Flores
- Packers DC Jeff Hafley
- Vikings QB coach Josh McCown
- Commanders’ DC Joe Whitt Jr.
Other candidates:
Bills OC Joe Brady (request), 49ers QB coach Brian Griese (request)
Chicago Bears — Hired Ben Johnson
- Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/11)
- Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/11)
Interviewed candidates:
-
Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel— Hired by Patriots - Cardinals OC Drew Petzing
- Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
- Former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll
- Giants OC Mike Kafka
- Bears interim HC/OC Thomas Brown
- Former Commandes HC Ron Rivera
- Former Stanford HC David Shaw
- Steelers OC Arthur Smith
- Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy
- Ravens OC Todd Monken
- Bills OC Joe Brady
- Vikings DC Brian Flores
- Packers OC Adam Stenavick
- Tennessee State HC Eddie George
New England Patriots — Hired Mike Vrabel
- Aaron Glenn: Request to interview DENIED
- Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/10)
Interviewed candidates:
Old news
- 1/20: Dan Campbell anticipates losing both coordinators
- 1/20: Glenn scheduled in-person interviews with Jets and Saints
- 1/19: Cowboys “intrigued” by and are expected to interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/12: 49ers interviewed Lions’ Special Teams assistant coach Jett Modkins
- 1/11: Raiders are “enamored” by Ben Johnson
- 1/9: Aaron Glenn turns down Patriots interview
- 1/9: Raiders schedule interview with Aaron Glenn
- 1/9: 49ers interviewed Lions DB coach Deshea Townsend
- 1/9: Seahawks to interview Lions OL coach Hank Fraley for OC position
- 1/8: Patriots request to interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/8: Chris Spielman to interview for Jets GM job
- 1/8: Ben Johnson has 4 interviews scheduled (Raiders, Patriots, Bears, Jaguars)
- 1/8: Raiders request to interview Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn
- 1/8: Aaron Glenn’s has four interviews scheduled
- 1/7: Jaguars request to interview Ben Johnson
- 1/7: Saints to interview Aaron Glenn Friday, Jan. 10
- 1/7: Jaguars will interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/6: Saints officially put in a request to interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/6: Jets request to interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/6: Patriots request to interview Ben Johnson
- 1/6: Saints expected to interview Aaron Glenn
- 1/6: Jets expected to be interested in Aaron Glenn, but NOT Ben Johnson
- 1/6: Bears request to interview Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn
