5 coaches who could be pried away from the Detroit Lions in 2024

5. Scottie Montgomery, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

It was weird to see, but Montgomery interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator job practically before the ink was dry on his contract to replace Duce Staley as the Lions' running backs coach a year ago. He of course stay on the staff in Detroit, and the development of Jahmyr Gibbs is another mark on his resume.

And quite a wide-ranging coaching resume it is for Montgomery.

• Duke, Wide receivers coach (2006-2009)
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide receivers coach (2010-2012)
• Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/passing game/wide receivers coach (2013)
• Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2014-2015)
• East Carolina, Head coach (2016-2018)
• Maryland, Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019-2020)
• Indianapolis Colts, Running backs coach (2021-2022)
• Detroit Lions, Associate head coach/running backs coach (2023-)

A possible to return by Montgomery to be the head coach at his alma mater went away, as Duke aimed for and got a bigger fish. But he might still be a deep dark horse candidate for an NFL head coaching job, and it's fair to assume he might be wanted to interview for an offensive coordinator post or two after the Lions' season is over.

Montgomery would be a candidate to be the new Lions' offensive coordinator if Ben Johnson takes a head coaching job. But opportunities to be an offensive coordinator somewhere else could be in play too, and he's deserving of those looks.