Detroit Lions announce 2026 coaching staff

Indianapolis — The Detroit Lions announced the team’s full coaching staff for the 2026 season on Monday afternoon, confirming some previously reported adjustments to the staff and establishing a role for incoming assistant Mike Kafka.

Kafka, the former New York Giants offensive coordinator who finished last season as the team’s interim head coach, will serve as Detroit’s pass game coordinator.

That title was held by David Shaw last season. He remains on staff, but now in a pass game specialist role. Duties were not clarified within the staffing announcement.

On offense, the other notable changes were Steve Oliver’s promotion from assistant offensive line coach to running the tight end room, the hiring of recently retired offensive tackle Dan Skipper as an offensive assistant, and Bruce Gradkowski being formally named assistant wide receivers coach after serving as an offensive assistant last year, his first with the organization.

Additionally, wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery got his secondary title tweaked from assistant head coach to associate head coach.

Defensively, there were minimal changes to the staff. Most significant was safeties coach Jim O’Neil being promoted to assistant head coach. He interviewed for the Jets defensive coordinator vacancy this offseason.

Coach Dan Campbell is scheduled to speak to the media on Tuesday, at the league’s scouting combine, where he could offer some details on new and expanded roles on his staff.

The other change of note is the retirement of the team’s director of sports performance, Mike Clark.

Clark joined the franchise in 2021, having previously served as head coach Dan Campbell’s strength coach at Texas A&M. Clark entered coaching at the high school level in 1979, at Topeka High School, and spent 18 years in the NFL, including the past five with the Lions.

Clark was a three-time NFL Strength Coach of the Year, last earning those honors in 2024. He was also inducted into the 2003 USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame as a coach.

Lions 2026 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