The Detroit Lions have been a development center for promising young coaches in recent years. In one offseason, they lost both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs.
Dan Campbell constantly has to think about who he would hire next in his assistant roles. That kind of coaching turnover can set teams back significantly. It was part of Detroit's problem in their disappointing 2025 campaign. But Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay sees those changes as a blessing in disguise.
McVay told ESPN's Eric Woodyard, "What I would say is it's a blessing. What I've really leaned into for us is what's been really fortunate is you get exposure to new people. New ideas."
Sean McVay has walked Dan Campbell's Lions path — and it led to a Super Bowl
Back in 2021, the Rams were fighting to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. They had just traded Jared Goff to the Lions (a deal we're still adamant benefited both teams), getting Matthew Stafford back in the deal. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had been hired away as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach.
McVay's team was going through about as much change as a team could take on in one offseason. They went on to win the Super Bowl that season. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris reshaped his unit, and offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell showed massive progress in his second year.
The new ideas introduced by the constant churn of new assistant coaches in L.A. have given the Rams a strategic advantage over the years. It could provide a similar benefit in Detroit. The Lions lost eight coaches in one offseason in 2025, bringing in a new crop of developers and strategists.
READ MORE: Dan Campbell's passion for connecting with players went to a funny extreme
Campbell continued the turnover this offseason, bringing in Drew Petzing to take over for John Morton as offensive coordinator.
Through the changes, the Lions' offensive and defensive schemes have remained relatively steady. Campbell still has significant influence, especially on offense. But the injection of new ideas could prove to be a key factor in 2026.
Petzing will bring some of what he learned with the Arizona Cardinals to the table, melding his scheme with the proven offense that the Lions have run in recent years. That combination of systems could take Detroit's offense to another level this season.
McVay called the consistent loss of assistant coaches a "champagne problem." It's a sign that the Lions are doing well consistently and that Campbell's ability to develop coaches is respected throughout the league. If the new minds in the building drive Detroit's strategy forward, the problem could become the answer they need to get over the hump.
Add us as a preferred source on Google