Hidden Figures: Seth Ryan's disappointment has transformed into appreciation after offseason role change

Note: This is the fourth installment in a multi-part series that explores the background, responsibilities, and aspirations of the Detroit Lions’ lower-level assistant coaches. Today, we’re looking at assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan.

Allen Park — The last two times Seth Ryan believed he was ready to take the next step in his coaching career, he’s been told, “No, not yet.”

The first time, shortly after he arrived in Detroit as an assistant receivers coach in 2021, Ryan said it to himself. He admits he had felt differently when he accepted the job, having led a veteran room in an interim capacity with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, it didn’t take long for Ryan to recognize how much he still had to learn.

“When I came here, I got a rude awakening,” he said. “I was like, I am not ready. I'm not at the level that Dan Campbell requires and Ben Johnson requires to be a position coach."

This offseason, Ryan was told no again, directly by Campbell this time. The receiver coaching position opened up after Antwaan Randle El followed Johnson to Chicago. Ryan interviewed, but Campbell opted to shift assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery from running backs to receivers instead.