Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Exploring more than a dozen coaches the Lions could consider for their offensive coordinator position. With the news that Ben Johnson is leaving his offensive coordinator position with the Detroit Lions for a head coaching role with the Chicago Bears, the Lions find themselves needing to execute a coordinator search for the first time since 2022—when they promoted Johnson to the role. Lions coach Dan Campbell spoke with the media prior to the announcement of Johnson’s departure and explained what his approach for a new coordinator would look like. “That’s my job, is to replenish and find the next man up and the guy who’s going to give us the best chance to have success on both sides of the ball,” Campbell said of the team’s future without Ben Johnson and possibly Aaron Glenn. “So, we’re not going to allow that to happen—I’m not. [...] it’s a loss, but yet, man, we move forward, this train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.” Campbell would go on to explain that he planned on being extremely involved in any new coaching/coordinator searches, and identified a few key points that he prioritized: “We don’t (want to) lose what we’re about (or) our identity” “I want to make sure that Goff is comfortable because he’s playing at a high level” “I want to keep our terminology in place” “ I think we’ve got guys on staff that I think are more than qualified and would be outstanding in those (coordinator) roles...” “...but that does not mean that I’m not looking outside either” “I’m not going to be in a hurry, I’m not in a mad dash. No matter what happens I want to do what’s right by our team” While Campbell specifically points out that he is opening up his search parameters, most of that checklist could be achieved by hiring internally, so that’s where we’ll start with our list of candidates. 5 Internal candidates Scottie Montgomery Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach In 2022, when the Lions promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator, Montgomery (who was with the Colts at the time) was a finalist for the job. When the opportunity came up for the Lions to hire him in 2023, Campbell jumped at it, bringing him on as the running backs coach and assistant head coach. In Montgomery’s current role, he is involved in developing weekly game plans, working with all players on the roster, as well as a holding a weekly press conference with the media. He knows this roster and their identity as well as any coach on staff, and two years after being considered for the role, he should be heavily prepared to step in and keep things rolling. “There’s a ton of things I’ve done with him behind the scenes, but also in front of the team,” Campbell said of Montgomery’s development as a coach. “There’s a number of things that he’ll install for us, not only offensively, but there will be some things that he does in front of the team. And so, wherever I can take that a little bit, I will. He’s very comfortable with those guys, the team’s comfortable with him. He does a good job of presenting things and he’s smart, he’s driven, he’s outstanding.” Tanner Engstrand Lions passing game coordinator The Lions' internal man of mystery. Engstrand is one of the most popular names brought up when discussing options for Johnson’s replacement, but the majority of fans couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. That being said, there’s an aura surrounding Engstrand, as the Lions appear to have been grooming him for a larger role since he joined the team in 2020. Engstrand’s first coaching position was as a graduate assistant under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego back in 2005. After a dozen years at USD, he rejoined Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, spent a season with the DC Defenders, and then was hired by Matt Patricia in his final season in Detroit. Campbell kept him on staff when he took over and Engstrand played an important role in aiding Campbell in calling plays after Anthony Lynn was fired. Engstrand took over as the tight end position coach (Johnson’s previous role) and passing game coordinator in 2022, then saw his role shift to passing game coordinator only in 2023 and 2024, as the Lions wanted him focused more on the big picture offensive planning rather than on a specific position. “Yeah, Tanner’s been awesome, man,” Goff said of Engstrand in 2023. “He’s passing coordinator, PGC is what we call him and he’s been great and brings different ideas to Ben—brings different thoughts. I’m able to ask him questions that he can answer instead of hogging Ben down with more. I can kind of go to Tanner with some of that stuff and he’s been extremely helpful for me. I had him in the quarterback room my first year and he’s bounced around this building a couple times, but he’s doing a hell of a job.” Hank Fraley Lions offensive line coach One of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, Fraley has been with the Lions for seven seasons and was promoted to his current role with the Lions in 2020. When Campbell was hired in 2021, Taylor Decker made a plea to retain him, and it ended up being one of the smartest moves this regime has made. The Lions have built their foundation on their ability to win in the trenches and Fraley has molded an offensive line that is considered one of if not the best in the NFL. While he doesn’t officially have “run game coordinator” attached to his title, he is a weekly staple in developing the Lions' rushing game plan. “I’ve been blessed to have Hank my entire career,” Lions All-Pro center Frank Ragnow said in training camp. “I’ve said it multiple times, but (it’s) just the biggest blessing ever. He’s a heck of a coach, and the fact that he played center in this league for such a long time has been such a blessing.” Fraley got his first opportunity to interview for an offensive coordinator role with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this month, and he may get another soon. Antwaan Randle El Lions wide receiver coach While Randle El has a storied NFL and college career, it may be hard to believe he’s already been an NFL coach for six full seasons. Hired by Campbell, Randle El has helped develop the Lions wide receiver group into a highly efficient unit that features a non-traditional WR1 in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was named All Pro for his second straight season. Randle El has experience playing quarterback in college, wide receiver in the NFL, has a Super Bowl win to his name, and interviewed for the Bucs' open offensive coordinator role in 2024, which could make him a more attractive option than he’s currently getting credit for being. Mark Brunell Lions quarterbacks coach After playing 19 years at quarterback in the NFL, Brunell coached high school football for nine years before Campbell hired him in 2021. While he is not the most inexperienced coach in this group of internal options, he is by far the most experienced in football. If the Lions want a coordinator who can connect with Goff, there isn’t a better option than Brunell. The question is: Is he ready? 4 candidates with connections to Campbell Pete Carmichael Jr. Broncos, senior offensive assistant When Campbell joined the Saints coaching staff in 2016, Carmichael had already been the offensive coordinator for eight seasons. Carmichael would hold that position for a whopping 14 years before being let go in 2023 and joining Sean Payton in Denver. Over his tenure, Carmichael led the Saints offense to produce top-nine yardage outputs in every season, including being No. 1 in the NFL six times. While Carmichael’s offenses struggled following the departures of Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, there were other factors at play in New Orleans, including lacking talent due to a compromised salary cap. As the tight ends coach in Carmichael’s scheme for five seasons, Campbell knows exactly the type of coach Carmichael is. Ronald Curry Bills quarterbacks coach Curry played tight end in the NFL for eight seasons, even briefly spending time on the Lions practice squad in 2009. He joined the Saints coaching staff the same year as Campbell and worked as an offensive assistant before moving to wide receivers and eventually quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator. Fired from New Orleans with Carmichael, Curry was hired as the Bills quarterbacks coach where he has worked directly with Josh Allen on what could be an NFL MVP season. Because the Bills are still in the playoffs, the Lions will have to be patient if they want to touch base with Curry. Jeff Nixon Syracuse offensive coordinator and running backs coach From 2011-15, when Campbell was tight ends coach (and eventually interim coach) with the Miami Dolphins, Nixon was the running backs coach. He’s bounced around the NFL and college coaching ranks, coaching running backs, tight ends, and on special teams, eventually connecting with Matt Rhule at Baylor and with the Carolina Panthers. Nixon got his first taste as an offensive coordinator in Carolina after Rhule fired Joe Brady (Bills offensive coordinator), and is now the current offensive coordinator at Syracuse. Josh McCown Vikings quarterbacks coach While McCown and Campbell have not crossed paths as coaches, both were on the 2006 Lions roster. McCown backed up quarterback Jon Kitna and only saw action in two games and did not record a stat. McCown would stick in the NFL until 2020, then jumped into the coaching ranks in 2023 as the Panthers quarterback coach. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young struggled as a rookie (which was not surprising with the lack of talent on offense) and McCown was fired before the season concluded. He landed on his feet quickly, accepting a quarterback’s coaching position under Kevin O’Connell with the Vikings, and was a key contributor in the resurgence of Sam Darnold’s career. McCown is still very early in his NFL career, but he has already completed a head coaching interview with the New York Jets in this hiring cycle. 3 popular candidates with an outside chance Nick Caley Rams tight end coach/passing game coordinator Caley is not a widely known candidate to many fans, but he’s a name to know in coaching circles. He grew up in the New England offensive system before shifting to the Rams as their tight ends coach in 2023. The Patriots reportedly made him a contract offer of almost $3 million per year (per SI’s Albert Breer) to rejoin the Patriots in 2024, but he passed on the offer and Los Angeles gave him a promotion to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. If the Lions were interested, it would mark the third offseason in a row that Caley was pursued to be an offensive coordinator. Marcus Brady Chargers passing game coordinator A former Canadian Football League quarterback turned coach, Brady won three Grey Cups (two as a wide receivers coach and one as an offensive coordinator) before jumping to the NFL. Brady was hired by Frank Reich to be the Colts' quarterback coach and eventual offensive coordinator (2021-2022). He joined the Eagles for two seasons as a consultant and this past season, Jim Harbaugh hired Brady to be his passing game coordinator with the Chargers. While Brady shares the Lions’ philosophy of winning physically in the trenches, combined with West Coast philosophies, his scheme familiarity is more aligned with Andy Reid’s offensive philosophies than the ones Sean McVay/Johnson installed with Goff. However, Brady’s ability to adapt to Harbaugh’s ground-and-pound style illustrates his versatility. Klint Kubiak Saints offensive coordinator Kubiak, the oldest son of legendary coach Gary Kubiak, got his coaching start at Texas A&M (Campbell’s Alma Mater) before jumping to the NFL in 2013. He cut his teeth as a quality control and quarterback coach and was the Vikings' offensive coordinator in 2021 during Mike Zimmer’s final year in Minnesota. He was a passing game coordinator for the Broncos and 49ers the following two seasons before taking the Saints offensive coordinator role, replacing Carmichael. While Kubiak is still under contract with New Orleans, they have granted him permission to interview for other offensive coordinator jobs and he is rumored to be the front-runner for the Seattle Seahawks opening. Familiar names... but probably not in contention In addition to the dozen names already mentioned, here are a few familiar names that will come up in conversation but seem unlikely. Duce Staley, Browns RB coach: Part of Campbell’s original staff, Staley departed Detroit amicably but surprisingly never returned, even when opportunities developed. David Blough, Commanders assistant QB coach: Only one year into his coaching career, Blough is likely not a serious candidate for the Lions OC spot. However, if Brunell is promoted or departs, Blough is a name to keep in mind as a replacement. Brian Griese, 49ers QB coach: Just three seasons into his role in the bay, Griese is an interesting name to keep tabs on, even if it is likely too early for a promotion like this. Byron Leftwich, former Bucs OC: Campbell will be familiar with Leftwich having coached against him twice a year when in New Orleans, but he hasn’t had a coaching job in two seasons, which makes me skeptical he would be seriously considered for a job. Frank Reich, former Colts/Panthers HC: Campbell has a lot of respect for Reich, and while his last two head coaching jobs fell flat, it wasn’t long ago when he was coordinating the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. Josh McDaniels, former Raiders HC: Things imploded in both his tries as a head coach (Broncos, Raiders) but he was always a good coordinator when he only had to focus on that part of the job. I do have questions about his culture fit. Chip Kelly, Ohio State OC: Kelly is a terrific offensive mind wrapped inside a struggling head coach. Will his role as OC on the National Champs illustrate his value as a play-caller, or build his ego into what has been a problem in the past?