Detroit Lions Assistant Coaches And Head Coach Salary 2023

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell inked a six-year contract on January 20, 2021. Campbell negotiated a contract worth $40 million.

The team owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, said, "Dan knows the rigors of professional football and what it takes to succeed. He will help promote the culture we want to establish across our organization."

Before joining Detroit, he worked under Sean Payton in the New Orleans Saints. His annual salary was $1.5 million.

The year before Dan's arrival was total chaos for the franchise. Three people took the head coaching duty: Matt Patricia for 11 games, Darrell Bevell for five, and Robert Prince for one.

They were last in the NFC North with a record of 5-11.

Dan Campbell Era at Detroit

It wasn't a fairytale start for Campbell. His side managed to win only three while losing 13 and tying one in his inaugural 2021 season.

It looked like the same old story for the franchise, as they had been at the bottom of the NFC North division for four consecutive seasons.

The 2022 season started as a disaster for Campbell, losing six out of seven opening fixtures. The 9th October fixture against the New England Patriots was horrible, as they did not register a single point on the scorecard.

However, an unexpected turnaround occurred from Week 9 onwards. They won eight of the remaining ten games and ended the season with a record of 9- 8.

They were second in the division but barely missed the playoff berth.

The team looks balanced in 2023 and started the 2023 campaign on a winning note. They defeated the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the NFL Kickoff game by 21 to 20.

The second game of the season did not go in their favor, as they lost to the Seattle Seahawks 37-31. But, they managed to win four consecutive games against the Atlanta Falcons (20-6), the Green Bay Packers (34-20), the Carolina Panthers (42-24), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20-6).

Unfortunately, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens by 38 to 6, halting their winning momentum.

However, they did not let it affect them and picked up their pace. They won the next three games against the Las Vegas Raiders (26-14), the Los Angeles Chargers (41-38), and the Chicago Bears (31-26).

They will face the Packers on the 23rd of November. The Lions are 8-2 and are looking comfortable at the first place in the NFC North.

Campbell's record with the Lions is 20-23-1. They are on their way to a playoff spot and look like solid contenders to win the division.

Detroit Lions coaching staff has added Dre Bly, John Fox, John Scott Jr., Jim Hostler, Wayne Blair, Scottie Montgomery, Steve Heiden, and Dre Thompson.

Many names from the 2022 coaching list have returned for a new campaign under Campbell.

Meanwhile, some have left the club. It includes John Morton, who will work under Denver Broncos Head coach Sean Payton.

Other names who left the crew are Stephen Thomas and Duce Stanley.

Likewise, various role changes have been noticed for the new campaign. They are as follows:

• Tanner Engstrand: Before Tight End Coach, now Passing Game Coordinator
• J.T. Barrett: Before Offensive Assistant, now Assistant Quarterbacks coach
• Steve Oliver: Before Offensive Quality Control, now Assistant Offensive Line coach
• Shaun Dion Hamilton: Before WCF Minority Coaching Assistantship, now Assistant Linebackers coach
• Brian Duker: Before Safeties Coach, now Defensive Backs coach

Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator

Ben Johnson has been with the Lions since 2019. His role while joining the franchise was Offensive Quality Control coach.

From 2020 to 2021, he was given the Tight Ends responsibility. In 2021, his role changed, and the 37-year-old handled the passing game for the team.

Seeing his progress, another role change occurred in 2022, and Johnson was named the Offensive Coordinator for the franchise.

His coaching journey can be traced back to 2009 when the North Carolina alma mater joined Boston College Eagles as a graduate assistant. In 2011, he was promoted to the TE coach.

The following year, the Miami Dolphins paved his way to the NFL when they hired him as an Offensive Assistant. From 2013 to 2018, he remained with the Dolphins under various roles such as Assistant QB coach, TE coach, Assistant WR coach, and WR coach.

Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator

Aaron Glenn started coaching in 2014. His first coaching gig was with the Cleveland Browns as an Assistant defensive backs coach.

In 2016, the New Orleans Saints recruited the former defensive back and assigned him the defensive backs coach role. He remained in that role for five years till 2020.

The three-time Pro Bowler was included in the Lions coaching team in 2021.

The former Texas A&M; Aggies student-athlete was drafted by the New York Jets in 1994. The overall 12th pick played 15 successful years in the National Football League and played for Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints.

Aaron's 634 combined tackles and 543 solos came in 205 career games. He also has 3 fumble returns, 41 interceptions, and 6 touchdowns to his name.

Detroit Lions head coach history dates back to 1930 when Hal Griffin coached the team. He is the first person to coach the Lions franchise.

Griffin won five, lost six, and tied three in fourteen games during his only season with the team.

From 1930 to 1933, the franchise was located in Portsmouth, Ohio. They were called Portsmouth Spartans.

George M. "Potsy" Clark was the only head coach appointed before the relocation. He served from 1931 to 1936 and returned for another campaign in 1940.

Clark managed the team for 85 matches. His record is 53-25-7 in his two tenures.

Longest-Serving Head Coach

Wayne Fontes was the Detroit Lions' head coach from 1988 to 1996. His nine-year tenure with the franchise is the longest for an HC.

Before that, he was hired as a Defensive Coordinator for the franchise in 1985. He served in that role till 1998.

After the firing of Darryl Rodger in the middle of the 1998 season, Fontes was made the interim head coach. The front office showed confidence in him, and the individual went on to lead the team for nine seasons.

The former New York Titans defensive back coached for 133 games and maintained a 66-67 win-loss record. He helped the team win two titles in 1991 and 1993 when they played in the NFC Central division.

Although his postseason record of one win and four losses is nothing to be excited about, he is the one who helped them reach four playoffs (1991, 1993, 1994, and 1995).

The most memorable year for the Lions with Wayne was the 1991 season. The team was first in the NFC Central with a 12-4 regular season record.

Wayne won AP Coach of the Year, Pro Football Weekly Coach of the Year, and UPI NFC Coach of the Year in 1991.

Altogether, 30 different individuals have taken the helm and guided the Michigan franchise. Detroit Lions coaches list and their time with the team is given below: