The Detroit Lions are actively searching for a new defensive coordinator. While it might seem logical to promote someone already on the staff, like Kelvin Sheppard, the team is conducting a thorough process by considering external candidates as well.
However, hiring an outside candidate comes with potential challenges. External hires often want to implement changes to the defensive system, such as switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme or altering the way specific units, like linebackers, operate. This is a significant consideration, as the Lions are committed to maintaining their core principles. While they might allow minor schematic adjustments, they have no intention of overhauling their defense or changing their player scouting and acquisition approach.
This commitment suggests the Lions may lean toward hiring an internal candidate who already understands the team’s philosophy. General Manager Brad Holmes emphasized that whoever takes the job will need to align with the Lions’ established identity, not the other way around.
Holmes highlighted the importance of maintaining the team’s standards:
“That’s one of the great things about me and Dan [Campbell]; we’ve set a foundation and a standard for how we play. Over the past few years, it’s been clear what type of players we want.
I understand that when a new coordinator comes in, they might think, ‘I need this type of guy or that type of guy.’ But for us, it’s about core intangibles. We evaluate all players, but if someone doesn’t play the way we need them to, regardless of measurable traits like arm length, then they don’t fit.”
