ALLEN PARK – Detroit Lions officially announced the hiring of Anthony Lynn as its offensive coordinator, giving the club a new set of coordinators under the command of coach Dan Campbell.
Lynn, the former Chargers coach, replaces Darrell Bevell as the offensive player. Dave Fipp was announced as special team coordinator on Tuesday night, while Aaron Glenn was hired to replace Cory Undlin as a defensive coordinator.
All three managers are ex-players, as is Campbell – a tight end blocker who spent three seasons in Detroit – along with some new hires on the board as well. This includes assistant general manager Ray Agnew, senior personnel executive, John Dorsey, both officially announced today. Dorsey also has general management experience, occupying the position in Kansas City and Cleveland, who made it to the playoffs this year with lineups he built. He also summoned Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield in consecutive years.
So, while Lions hired a general manager for the first time (Brad Holmes) and a full-time head coach (Campbell), they surrounded the two men with a lot of experience, including between the lines.
“I think having played makes a difference,” said owner Sheila Ford Hamp. “I think the players will respect what (Campbell) is saying, because they know that he was there and did that. So, yes, I think it’s definitely a positive, positive factor. “
There is still some work to be done on the team, but Lions are reportedly meeting a need by hiring Mark DeLeone as linebacker coach. DeLeone emerged as a young quality control coach in Kansas City – while Dorsey was at the forefront – before taking over as linebackers in Chicago in 2019, where he helped players like Roquan Smith.
DeLeone decided to leave Chicago after he was passed over to the post of defensive coordinator when Chuck Pagano retired. Safeties coach Sean Desai got the job.
This is where the team is, according to various reports and the team itself:
Head coach: Dan Campbell
Offensive coordinator: Anthony Lynn
Offensive line: Hank Fraley
Running backs / assistant head coach: Duce Staley
Tight ends: Ben Johnson
Receivers: TBD
Quarterbacks: TBD
Defensive coordinator: Aaron Glenn
Defensive line: TBD
Linebackers: Mark DeLeone
Defensive zones: Aubrey Pleasant
Special teams coordinator: Dave Fipp