As they look to formally replace Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator, could the Lions circle back to Ken Dorsey?
As Dan Campbell formed his first staff as Detroit Lions head coach, he ultimately hired Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator. Things did not go well, as Campbell took over play calling after the Week 9 bye this season. On Monday, Campbell announced an officially parting of ways with Lynn.
The focus now shifts to who the Lions’ new offensive coordinator will be. Lists can easily include internal candidates (Duce Staley, Ben Johnson, even Mark Brunell). With a h/t to Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, we’re reminded of a candidate for the job a year ago.
As Risdon noted, the Lions interviewed Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Ken Dorsey for the offensive coordinator post Lynn eventually got.
"A former NFL quarterback, Dorsey earned several interviews for coordinator positions last offseason — including in Detroit. Before his time in Buffalo, he worked with Cam Newton in Carolina on coach Ron Rivera’s staff, and he also has some previous socuting experience."
A look at Ken Dorsey’s resume
After a successful college career as a quarterback at the University of Miami, Dorsey was a seventh-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He made 13 starts in six NFL seasons for the 49ers and Browns, followed by one year in the CFL (2010) with the Toronto Argonauts.
Dorsey entered coaching at the high school level before being hired as a pro scout by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. He became the Panthers’ quarterbacks coach in 2013, serving in that role through 2017. After a year at Florida International University as an assistant athletic director, he landed with the Bills in 2019.
Dorsey certainly gets some credit for Josh Allen becoming the passer he has. If Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll gets a head coaching job, a promotion would easily be in order.
But as the Lions officially begin their search to replace Lynn, Dorsey may be somewhere on the early list of candidates as Campbell considers circling back to talk to him.