Detroit Lions Coaching Staff 2026

LIONS ANNOUNCE 2026 COACHING STAFF

Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today the team’s 2026 coaching staff.

2026 DETROIT LIONS COACHING STAFF

Dan Campbell – Head Coach

Drew Petzing – Offensive Coordinator

Kelvin Sheppard – Defensive Coordinator

Dave Fipp – Special Teams Coordinator

Scottie Montgomery – Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers

Jim O’Neil – Assistant Head Coach/Safeties

Mark Brunell – Quarterbacks

Tashard Choice – Running Backs

Caleb Collins – Defensive Assistant

David Corrao – Senior Defensive Assistant/Outside

Linebackers Hank Fraley – Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line

Bruce Gradkowski – Assistant Wide Receivers

Shaun Dion Hamilton – Linebackers

Mike Kafka – Pass Game Coordinator

August Mangin – Defensive Assistant

Justin Mesa – Offensive Quality Control

Jett Modkins – Assistant Special Teams

Steve Oliver – Tight Ends

Kacy Rodgers – Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line

David Shaw – Pass Game Specialist

Dan Skipper – Offensive Assistant

Dre Thompson – WCF Minority Coaching Assistant/Defensive Quality Control

Deshea Townsend – Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs

Marques Tuiasosopo – Offensive Assistant

Josh Schuler – Head Strength & Conditioning

Jill Costanza – Assistant Strength & Conditioning/Director of Sports Science

Cam Josse – Assistant Strength & Conditioning

Thadeus Jackson – Assistant Strength & Conditioning

Jesse Giambra – Chief of Staff/Head Coach Administration

MIKE KAFKA – PASS GAME COORDINATOR

Mike Kafka joins the Lions as the passing game coordinator in 2026 after spending the previous four seasons (2022-25) with the New York Giants, serving as interim head coach (2025), assistant head coach/offensive coordinator (2024-25) and offensive coordinator (2022-23). In 2025, Kafka helped the Giants ranked second in the NFL in rushing attempts (511), tie for fourth in rushing touchdowns (22) and rank fifth in rushing yards (2,195). He also helped WR Malik Nabers set the single-season franchise record for receptions (109) in 2024.

Kafka began his NFL coaching career with the Kansas City Chiefs, serving as quarterbacks/passing game coordinator (2020-21), quarterbacks coach (2018-19) and offensive quality control coach (2017). During his five seasons in Kansas City, the team led the NFL in net yards (32,283), first downs (1,872), points scored (2,382), touchdowns scored (277) and wins (60). Kafka won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs and helped the team reach Super Bowl LV during his tenure.

Kafka’s first coaching position came as an offensive graduate assistant at Northwester in 2016.

Prior to embarking on his coaching career, Kafka was originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Northwestern. Having stints with the Eagles (2010-12), New England Patriots (2013), Jacksonville Jaguars (2013), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014), Minnesota Vikings (2015), Tennessee Titans (2015) and Cincinnati Bengals (2015), Kafka appeared in four games during his career.

DAN SKIPPER – OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT Skipper enters his first coaching position in 2026 following an extensive professional playing career. Originally signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2017, Skipper retired following the 2025 NFL season after accumulating 69 games played (16 starts) in stints with the Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.