Allen Park, Mich. – Detroit Lions announced today that it has hired Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Capers enters his 47th season as a coach, including his 35th in the NFL. He joins the Lions team after serving in the same position with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019) and Minnesota Vikings (2020), respectively.
From 2009 to 17, Capers served as a defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Under the guidance of Capers during that period, the Packers ranked first in the NFL in interceptions (176), second in takeaways (243), fourth in bags (365.0) and allowed the ninth lowest number of points per game (21.5).
Capers began his distinguished career as an NFL coach as a defense coach at the New Orleans Saints (1986-91). His previous NFL experience includes spells with the Pittsburgh Steelers (defensive coordinator, 1992-94), Carolina Panthers (head coach, 1995-98), Jacksonville Jaguars (defensive coordinator, 1999-2000), Houston Texans (head coach, 2001-05 ), Miami Dolphins (special assistant to head coach / defensive coordinator, 2006-07) and New England Patriots (special / secondary assistant, 2008).
Prior to joining the NFL, Capers trained in seven different university programs, including Kent State (1972-74), Washington (1975), Hawaii (1975-76), San Jose State (1977), California (1978-79), Tennessee (1980-81) and Ohio State (1982-83). From 1984 to 1985, he served as a defense coach for the former USFL’s Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars.
Capers played safety and linebacker at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio and majored in physical education and majored in psychology.