The Detroit Lions have filled their coaching staff needs quickly this offseason, and while the team didn’t have a dire need for a new assistant, they landed an intriguing staff member.
Detroit had an opening for a senior defensive consultant after the departure of Dom Capers to Carolina last week, and they wasted little time filling the void with another well-traveled coach.
According to ESPN reporter David Newton, former Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox will be joining the Lions as a senior defensive assistant.
Former Carolina, Chicago and Denver head coach John Fox appears headed to the Lions as a senior defensive consultant, per league source. Fox had a similar role with the Colts this past season.
— David Newton ()
“Former Carolina, Chicago and Denver head coach John Fox appears headed to the Lions as a senior defensive consultant, per league source. Fox had a similar role with the Colts this past season,” Newton .
Capers held down the role with the Lions, but after he departed it was vacant. Lions coach Dan Campbell had a connection with Fox dating back to his time in New York, where he was the team’s defensive coordinator under Jim Fasell while Campbell was playing tight end.
Fox will add an experienced eye to the mix for the Lions, who will be glad to add his 45 year experience to the staff. Not only has Campbell been able to do this with position coaches, but he he has given himself a leg-up by having several veteran minds around his franchise with plenty of experience.
Fox has coached in big-time games as well as Super Bowls, so he could give the Lions a good idea of how to take the next steps as an organization, and give Campbell a fantastic ear to lean on. To that end, this move is coming at the perfect time for a team like Detroit, who is trying to make a leap after a 9-8 finish.
John Fox Offers Lions Major Experience
One of the better defensive minds in football, Fox has been a fixture in the NFL since breaking into the league as a defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989.
Fox was a position coach until he got his first big break in 1994, leading the Los Angeles Raiders as a defensive coordinator. From there, …read more
Source:: Heavy.com