Lions announce 2026 coaching staff

Lions announce 2026 coaching staff

Detroit Lions
24 Feb 2026, 00:30 GMT+

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

2026 DETROIT LIONS COACHING STAFF

  • Dan CampbellHead Coach

  • Drew PetzingOffensive Coordinator

  • Kelvin SheppardDefensive Coordinator

  • Dave FippSpecial Teams Coordinator

  • Scottie MontgomeryAssociate Head Coach/Wide Receivers

  • Jim O'NeilAssistant Head Coach/Safeties

  • Mark BrunellQuarterbacks

  • Tashard ChoiceRunning Backs

  • Caleb CollinsDefensive Assistant

  • David CorraoSenior Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers

  • Hank FraleyRun Game Coordinator/Offensive Line

  • Bruce GradkowskiAssistant Wide Receivers

  • Shaun Dion HamiltonLinebackers

  • Mike KafkaPass Game Coordinator

  • August ManginDefensive Assistant

  • Justin MesaOffensive Quality Control

  • Jett ModkinsAssistant Special Teams

  • Steve OliverTight Ends

  • Kacy RodgersRun Game Coordinator/Defensive Line

  • David ShawPass Game Specialist

  • Dan SkipperOffensive Assistant

  • Dre ThompsonWCF Minority Coaching Assistant/Defensive Quality Control

  • Deshea TownsendPassing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs

  • Marques TuiasosopoOffensive Assistant

  • Josh SchulerHead Strength & Conditioning

  • Jill CostanzaAssistant Strength & Conditioning/Director of Sports Science

  • Cam JosseAssistant Strength & Conditioning

  • Thadeus JacksonAssistant Strength & Conditioning

  • Jesse GiambraChief 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.

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