The Detroit Lions officially hired three new coaches on Wednesday, which means they have let go of their two defensive coordinators. In 2024, neither Dre Bly nor John Scott will play for the Lions again. Brian Duker is also absent because he allegedly left to become a coach for the Miami Dolphins. The signings of Jim O’Neil, Terrell Williams, and Deshea Townsend were formally confirmed by the team. Townsend most recently worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spent the last two seasons coaching the team’s cornerbacks and the previous six years as the defensive line coach. O’Neil, who most recently served as Northwestern’s defensive coordinator from 2023–2024, joins Detroit. It was previously known that Townsend and Williams had been hired earlier in the offseason.
While Deshea Townsend will oversee the passing game and defensive backs, Williams will teach the defensive line and play coordinator for the run game. In their one season apiece, Bly and Scott worked for the Lions as defensive line and cornerbacks coaches. As the defensive backs coach, Duker had worked with the team for three seasons. Attempting to improve on their 19th-ranked yards allowed, 29th-ranked passing yards allowed, and second-ranked rushing yards allowed, the Lions have made these adjustments.
