Dan Campbell has expanded his coaching staff once again.
Reports state that Deshea Townsend will be joining the Detroit Lions as their new passing game coordinator. Townsend most recently worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars as the passing game coordinator and coach of the cornerbacks.
Tanner Engstrand, the offensive coordinator under coordinator Ben Johnson, is not affected by the title of passing game coordinator. Townsend and Aaron Glenn are anticipated to collaborate on defense.
After 2023, the Jaguars decided to cut ways with every member of their defensive line, and Townsend was let go as a result. In addition to his most recent assignment in Jacksonville, he has coaching experience in the NFL with the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, and Bears.
Additionally, from 2013 to 2015, he served as the cornerbacks coach at Mississippi State for three seasons.
As a former player, Townsend also fits the mold of Detroit’s staff. He played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 12 of his 13-year NFL career. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers.
In his career, he caught 21 passes for interceptions and scored 3 scores. From 2002 to 2005, Townsend was a teammate of Antwaan Randle El, the current wide receivers coach for the Lions. Together, they prevailed in Super Bowl XL, which was strangely held at Detroit’s Ford Field.
In 2023, the Lions had trouble stopping the pass; they came in 29th in passing yards against. High-profile receivers Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Puka Nacua, and Mike Evans all had 100-plus yard games against Detroit’s defense late in the season, making it difficult for the secondary to contain them.
The Lions have hired two people this offseason with this one. Terrell Williams, a former Tennessee Titan, was brought on by Campbell to serve as the group’s new run game coordinator and defensive line coach.
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