The 2025 season isn't done, and the Detroit Lions' coaching staff is already being poached.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Tight Ends coach Tyler Roehl will be leaving the Lions at the conclusion of the season to join Jimmy Rogers' coaching staff at Iowa State, where he will serve as the school's new offensive coordinator.
Iowa State has yet to make a formal announcement on the hire.
Roehl is already familiar with Iowa State, as he served as assistant head coach and running backs coach in 2024 before joining the Lions this season. In joining the Lions, Roehl replaced Steve Heiden, who left the Lions to join former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's coaching staff with the New York Jets.
Roehl previously served as an offensive coordinator in the college ranks for North Dakota State from 2019 to 2023. Roehl also served in various other assistant roles for the Bison since joining as a graduate assistant in 2011. During his time at North Dakota State, Roehl won seven FCS National Championships as a part of the dominant program.
Roehl's reported departure comes amid a tumultuous season for Lions' TEs, which has seen both Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (trachea) injured in the past month. LaPorta will miss the remainder of the season, while Wright was placed on the IR before the Lions' game against the Dallas Cowboys last week.
More coaching shakeups on the way?
The once-stable Lions' coaching staff is now set to enter a second consecutive offseason with significant movement. A Roehl replacement will need to be found, but that at least would be par for the course for the Lions. The most recent TE coach to spend more than two seasons in his role with the Lions was Tim Lappano from 2009 to 2012. As for who that could be, former TE coach Tanner Engstrand could be a possibility if he gets fired after one season as Glenn's OC in New York.
There's also the question of John Morton's future, after losing his play-calling duties in November. Head coach Dan Campbell has previously expressed confidence in Morton, even after the demotion. It's possible Morton could remain on the staff and even resume play-calling, but that remains to be seen.
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On the defensive side of the ball, first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is already garnering attention as a potential future head coach. Sheppard's name was frequently brought up for the LSU job before his alma mater hired Lane Kiffin. With this much head coaching buzz already, don't be surprised to see teams request interviews with Sheppard during the offseason. Although Sheppard will likely remain in Detroit into next season, it is not a guarantee if the right offer comes about.
It can be stressful as a fan to see the frequent need to replace coaches, but it's a sign of a well-coached and well-run team. It comes with the territory. How long the Lions' Super Bowl window remains open will depend on how well Campbell replaces his coaching departures. He's already been tested so far, and Roehl's reported departure means more tests are on the way.