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Dan Skipper will be back with the Detroit Lions this fall. Not in uniform, but on the coaching staff.
Skipper, who announced his retirement as a player last month after nine NFL seasons, is expected to help coach the offensive line, CBS Detroit reported.
The Lions return longtime offensive line coach Hank Fraley, but assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver is the top candidate to replace Tyler Roehl as tight ends coach in 2026 and assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan recently left to become pass game coordinator of the New York Jets.
The Lions are in the process of finalizing their offensive coaching staff after hiring Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator and Mike Kafka to assist with the passing game last month.
Skipper, who played as the team's sixth lineman most of the past four seasons, said after the Lions' season-ending win over the Chicago Bearshe was considering retirement because of a back injury he played through this year.
More: Penei Sewell's strategy on Taylor Decker retirement decision for Lions
He announced his retirement on Instagram a few weeks later and helped coach at the East-West Shrine Bowl college all-star game.
An undrafted rookie who originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, Skipper played with the Lions for at least part of eight of his nine NFL seasons. He spent much of the early part of his career on NFL practice squads, and also had stints with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.
In 2023, Skipper was a central figure in the Lions' controversial late-season loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when the Lions converted what appeared to be the go-ahead 2-point conversion on a tackle-eligible pass to Decker.
The play was nullified by penalty when referee Brad Allen mistakenly said Skipper reported as the eligible receiver on the play, and contributed to Skipper's status as a cult hero in Detroit.
Skipper caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in a December, 2024 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and for the most of the past two seasons fans cheered loudly when he entered games as an eligible receiver.
The Lions could have several new faces on their offensive line this fall. Left tackle Taylor Decker and center Graham Glasgow also are considering retirement, and if the Lions move Tate Ratledge to center to replace Glasgow, they will be in the market for a new starting right guard.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions cult hero Dan Skipper to rejoin coaching staff in 2026
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Skipper, who announced his retirement as a player last month after nine NFL seasons, is expected to help coach the offensive line, CBS Detroit reported.
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The Lions return longtime offensive line coach Hank Fraley, but assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver is the top candidate to replace Tyler Roehl as tight ends coach in 2026 and assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan recently left to become pass game coordinator of the New York Jets.
The Lions are in the process of finalizing their offensive coaching staff after hiring Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator and Mike Kafka to assist with the passing game last month.
Skipper, who played as the team's sixth lineman most of the past four seasons, said after the Lions' season-ending win over the Chicago Bearshe was considering retirement because of a back injury he played through this year.
More: Penei Sewell's strategy on Taylor Decker retirement decision for Lions
He announced his retirement on Instagram a few weeks later and helped coach at the East-West Shrine Bowl college all-star game.
An undrafted rookie who originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, Skipper played with the Lions for at least part of eight of his nine NFL seasons. He spent much of the early part of his career on NFL practice squads, and also had stints with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.
In 2023, Skipper was a central figure in the Lions' controversial late-season loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when the Lions converted what appeared to be the go-ahead 2-point conversion on a tackle-eligible pass to Decker.
The play was nullified by penalty when referee Brad Allen mistakenly said Skipper reported as the eligible receiver on the play, and contributed to Skipper's status as a cult hero in Detroit.
Skipper caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in a December, 2024 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and for the most of the past two seasons fans cheered loudly when he entered games as an eligible receiver.
The Lions could have several new faces on their offensive line this fall. Left tackle Taylor Decker and center Graham Glasgow also are considering retirement, and if the Lions move Tate Ratledge to center to replace Glasgow, they will be in the market for a new starting right guard.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions cult hero Dan Skipper to rejoin coaching staff in 2026
Continue reading...
