The Detroit Lions are out of the playoffs earlier than expected, immediately ramping up the coaching carousel in the NFL.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Monday he’s preparing for the possibility that he loses both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. That quickly became a reality as reports came out later that afternoon that the Chicago Bears were finalizing a deal to bring Johnson in as their new head coach.
Let’s take a look at possible internal replacements for the highly-touted OC.
Tanner Engstrand
The Lions are likely to keep their offensive coordinator search in-house, immediately bringing to mind passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
Engstrand has served five seasons with the Lions, just finishing his second in his current position. The Lions’ passing game ranked second in the league in passing yards this season and helped Jared Goff establish himself as a key part of one of the best offenses in the NFL.
This choice feels as close as you can get to keeping pace with what Johnson established with the Lions offense.
Scottie Montgomery
Assistant head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery is another in-house option for the Lions.
Montgomery has 18 years of coaching experience in either the NFL or college and his work has helped the Lions become one of the premier rushing attacks in the league. In 2024, the Lions ranked sixth in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns.
He’ll be a coach Campbell can trust immediately, and his experience justifies the opportunity for a promotion.
Antwaan Randle El
It would also fit the makeup of this Lions team to promote a coach like Antwaan Randle El.
Randle El has been the Lions wide receivers coach for five years and has been an obvious voice of reason and leadership on the sidelines for a talented receiving core.
Before coming to the Lions he spent two seasons as an offensive assistant in Tampa Bay, picking up a Super Bowl ring in the process.
Randle El fits the mold Campbell has used to gather his staff to this point, which includes experienced coaches who were also above-average professional players during their careers.
Hank Fraley
Hank Fraley has spent the most time with the Lions among the top candidates for this job.
Fraley just finished his seventh season with the team, the last five of which he’s served as offensive line coach. He’s been a mainstay on this team as it’s grown into what it was this season behind one of the better offensive lines in football throughout his tenure.
There’s a risk that Johnson could poach a coach like Fraley for his staff in Chicago, but if he stays, he could be an easy culture fit for the open OC job in Detroit.
