Despite hopes they’d avoid it, the Detroit Lions coaching staff went through a “brain drain” last year. Not only did they lose coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs, but they also lost TE coach Steve Heiden, pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett, and WR coach Antwaan Randle El.
In a year of transition, we saw some Lions coaches thrive and others struggle.
Here are our nominations for 2025 Detroit Lions Coach
of the Year. Remember: your vote in the poll at the bottom of the page will decide the winner.
Previous awards (voting still open!)
2025 Detroit Lions Coach of the Year
Jeremy Reisman: Assistant HC/WR coach Scottie Montgomery
I believe Montgomery is the most valuable coach on the team outside of Dan Campbell, and his move to wide receivers coach was a big win for the Lions last year. Amon-Ra St. Brown remains an All-Pro talent, Jameson Williams took a huge step and looked like receiver capable of any route, and by the end of the year, Isaac TeSlaa was starting to make plays on a somewhat regular basis. That doesn’t even touch his intangible impact as assistant head coach and strong voice behind the scenes.
Brandon Knapp: Assistant HC/WR coach Scottie Montgomery
While St. Brown had a rough year with drops, he continued to be the top option in the offense. Jameson Williams saw a slight uptick in yardage, but rookie Isaac TeSlaa saw his role increase as the year progressed. Once the offensive line gets things cleaned up and Jared Goff isn’t as under much pressure, Montgomery’s impact on the wide receivers will be more noticeable for fans.
John Whiticar: QB coach Mark Brunell
This could be the most difficult award to choose. Dan Campbell and Kelvin Sheppard did not have strong years leading the team and defense, respectively, while John Morton got the metaphorical axe midseason. That leaves positional coaches, who are difficult to assess. I think Mark Brunell deserves a lot of praise for helping Jared Goff produce a successful season despite a bad offensive line. I’ll give an honorable mention to safeties coach Jim O’Neil for making the safety group serviceable despite having to start a literal seventh-string safety.
Meko Scott: Safeties coach Jim O’Neil
I think it’s rare that we see positional coaches get the praise and recognition they deserve, which is why I’m going with Lions safety coach Jim O’Neil. In a year where he lost two Pro Bowl caliber players in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch to injuries, we saw O’Neil find success with a motley crew of safety combinations to try and keep that secondary together. And while it wasn’t always pretty, we did get decent-to-good play from the likes of Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox and even Erick Hallett, who all combined for 14 starts and two interceptions. The Lions also recognized the importance of O’Neil to their coaching staff as they made it a priority to retain him this offseason with a new contract.
Erik Schlitt: Safeties coach Jim O’Neil
While O’Neil helped Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2024, respectively, he was arguably an even better coach in 2025. Due to a plethora of injuries, O’Neill coached and/or developed eight different safeties for starting roles in 2025. In the season finale, O’Neil was without Joseph, Branch, Thomas Harper, Dan Jackson, and Erick Hallett, forcing him to lean on an injured Avonte Maddox and career special teamer Daniel Thomas as starters, with a spot starting role for Jalen Mills. Despite needing to deploy eight players across two positions, none looked out of place, and some thrived with career years.
Ryan Mathews: Linebacker coach Shaun Dion Hamilton
Figuring out who should be the Lions’ Coach of the Year wasn’t an easy process. The team as a whole underperformed and failed to meet expectations, and while each position group had its moments, they also had their moments. In his first year as the team’s linebackers coach, Shaun Dion Hamilton had that group playing consistently solid all year long. Jack Campbell (68), Alex Anzalone (44), and Derrick Barnes (31) were three of the defense’s top-four defenders in stops according to Pro Football Focus, or “tackles that constitute a ‘failure’ for the offense.”
Al Karsten: Safeties coach Jim O’Neil
What a stark contrast from the previous two seasons, when this award would have featured several worthy candidates. In 2025, most position groups fell short of expectations. For me, it came down to newly extended safeties coach Jim O’Neil and running backs coach-turned-wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery.
O’Neil was instrumental in keeping the defensive backfield afloat as injuries—and a suspension—hit the cornerstone duo of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. The depth he developed was on full display in the “Legion of Whom” Monday Night Football win over the Buccaneers. Six different safeties logged at least 100 snaps on the season, Jalen Mills played 65 snaps over the final two weeks, and six players made at least two starts at safety. O’Neil had both Thomas Harper and Avonte Maddox playing particularly good ball in the absences of Branch and Joseph.
Note: Poll coming soon!
