The Detroit Lions are expanding their coaching staff once again. On February 8, Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report revealed that Deshea Townsend will be joining the Lions’ coaching staff for 2024.
Townsend is joining Detroit’s staff as a pass game coordinator, according to Schultz’s first story. However, Townsend would have a defensive role on the team’s staff, Schultz stated later.
Townsend will serve as the cornerbacks coach and coordinator of the defensive passing game, according to reports from Pro Football Talk. Townsend spent the previous season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same two spots.
The hiring has not yet been formally announced by the Lions. Consequently, it’s uncertain if Dré Bly, the cornerback coach for the Lions in 2023, would stay on staff or take on a new position.
Bly’s first season as the Lions’ cornerbacks coach was in 2023.
In 1998, Townsend joined the NFL as a fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 13 seasons as a player, he led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl victories.
Deshea Townsend Joins Detroit Lions Coaching Staff: Report
For five years, Townsend was a backup cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All he did at those period was make the odd start.
However, he made eight starts in 2003. Then, when the Steelers went 15-1 in 2004, he was named a full-time starter for the league’s top defense.
Townsend mostly began operations in 2004–2007. In 2008, he returned to a reserve position, but this time around, he was the nickel cornerback for a league-winning defense.
The Steelers won two Super Bowls in the five years that Townsend started at least four games (at least 12 games from 2004–07).
2009 marked Townsend’s last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 2010 saw him part ways with the Indianapolis Colts.
Townsend has 21 interceptions in 191 NFL games, three of which he returned for touchdowns. In addition, he has 112 pass defenses and 15.5 sacks.
In 2011, Townsend joined the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant defensive backs coach to start his coaching career. He spent two seasons coaching cornerbacks in Arizona before moving on to Mississippi State.
In 2016, he rejoined the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Tennessee Titans. Prior to joining the Jaguars in 2022 as the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, he had served as a coach with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
On January 8, the Jaguars let go of Townsend, defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, and a number of other defensive assistants.
Lions Only Increasing Head Coach Staff
A coaching staff shake-up in Detroit was teased by the media a little before the season ended. However, it is not at all what has occurred during the first few weeks of the offseason.
Both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are coming back, having been given serious consideration for head coaching positions. Antwaan Randle El, the wide receivers coach, failed an interview to become the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ten days into the offseason, Detroit’s coaching staff has only added new members. Dianna Russini of The Athletic first reported that Terrell Williams was hired by the Lions to serve as the defensive line and run game coach, prior to Townsend.
Nonetheless, the Lions’ position with Williams and Townsend are comparable. John Scott, the defensive line coach for the 2023 Lions, is not sure what will happen to him.
In any case, the Detroit team website still lists Scott and Bly as assistants.
There will probably be more adjustments, maybe even some deletion. However, Townsend gives the Lions another excellent coach who was twice selected to the NFL All-Star team.
Dave Holcomb is a sportswriter for Heavy.com who covers the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. Holcomb, who is originally from Pittsburgh, has covered professional and collegiate sports for publications including Fansided, Rotowire, and Yardbarker. Additional information on Dave Holcomb
