ALLEN PARK – The Detroit Lions have officially announced the appointment of Anthony Lynn as their attacking coordinator, giving the club a brand new set of coordinators under incoming coach Dan Campbell.
Lynn, the former head coach of Chargers, replaces Darrell Bevell as the attacking player. Dave Fipp was announced as the special team coordinator on Tuesday night, while Aaron Glenn was appointed to replace Cory Undlin as defense coordinator.
All three of the coordinators are former players, as is Campbell – a blocking tight end who spent three seasons in Detroit – along with some new front-line jobs. These include Assistant General Manager Ray Agnew, Senior Personnel Manager John Dorsey, both of whom were officially announced today. Dorsey also has a general driving experience and held that job in Kansas City and Cleveland, both of which won the playoffs this year with rosters he largely built. He also drafted Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield in rugby years.
While the Lions appointed a first general manager (Brad Holmes) and a first full-time head coach (Campbell), they both surrounded men with a lot of experience, also between the lines.
“I think the game made a difference,” said owner Sheila Ford Hamp. ‘I think players will respect what Campbell says because they know he was there, and he did. So, yeah, I think that’s definitely a positive, positive factor. ”
There is still some work to be done on the staff, but the Lions are apparently addressing one need by appointing Mark DeLeone as the linebacker coach. DeLeone emerged as a young quality control coach in Kansas City – while Dorsey was in the front office – before starting work in Chicago in 2019, where he helped players like Roquan Smith.
DeLeone decided to leave Chicago after being handed over for the defense coordinator, when Chuck Pagano retired. The coach of Safeties, Sean Desai, rather got the job.
Here’s where the staff stands, according to various reports and the team itself:
Head coach: Dan Campbell
Offensive Coordinator: Anthony Lynn
Offensive line: Hank Fraley
Running Rugby / Assistant Head Coach: Duce Staley
Stiff points: Ben Johnson
Recipients: TBD
Quarterbacks: TBD
Defense Coordinator: Aaron Glenn
Defense line: TBD
Linebackers: Mark DeLeone
Defensive backs: Aubrey Pleasant
Special teams coordinator: Dave Fipp