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New Detroit Lions assistant Mike Kafka will have the title of pass game coordinator, and Lions strength coach Mike Clark is retiring after five years with the team.
Kafka was hired as a high-level assistant last month after first interviewing for the offensive coordinator position. The Free Press previously reported he was brought in to work with the passing game.
David Shaw, last year's pass game coordinator, is now a pass game specialist, the Lions announced Monday, Feb. 23, when they unveiled their entire coaching staff for the 2026 season.
THE OTHER NEW GUY: New Lions OC Drew Petzing can transform offense: 'It's in his veins'
The Lions have just three new assistants on their coaching staff: Kafka, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and offensive assistant Dan Skipper, who retired after a nine-year playing career to go into coaching.
They previously announced Petzing's hire to replace John Morton as coordinator.
Among other changes, Scottie Montgomery is now the team's associate head coach/receivers coach after serving as assistant head coach and receivers coach last year, safeties coach Jim O'Neil is assistant head coach and safeties coach, Bruce Gradkowski has been elevated from offensive assistant to assistant receivers coach, defensive quality control coach Caleb Collins is a defensive assistant and assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver is the new tight ends coach.
Clark, Dan Campbell's former strength coach at Texas A&M, joined the Lions as director of sports performance in 2021 after a long career in high school, college and the NFL. He worked with Campbell at A&M from 1995-98.
Jill Costanza, the Lions' director of sports science, added assistant strength and conditioning coach to her title.
Among the departures from last year's staff: Morton was fired after the season, tight ends coach Tyler Roehl left to become offensive coordinator at Iowa State and assistant receivers coach Seth Ryan was hired as New York Jets pass game coordinator.
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 announce titles for new coaches Mike Kafka, Dan Skipper
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Kafka was hired as a high-level assistant last month after first interviewing for the offensive coordinator position. The Free Press previously reported he was brought in to work with the passing game.
David Shaw, last year's pass game coordinator, is now a pass game specialist, the Lions announced Monday, Feb. 23, when they unveiled their entire coaching staff for the 2026 season.
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THE OTHER NEW GUY: New Lions OC Drew Petzing can transform offense: 'It's in his veins'
The Lions have just three new assistants on their coaching staff: Kafka, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and offensive assistant Dan Skipper, who retired after a nine-year playing career to go into coaching.
They previously announced Petzing's hire to replace John Morton as coordinator.
Among other changes, Scottie Montgomery is now the team's associate head coach/receivers coach after serving as assistant head coach and receivers coach last year, safeties coach Jim O'Neil is assistant head coach and safeties coach, Bruce Gradkowski has been elevated from offensive assistant to assistant receivers coach, defensive quality control coach Caleb Collins is a defensive assistant and assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver is the new tight ends coach.
Clark, Dan Campbell's former strength coach at Texas A&M, joined the Lions as director of sports performance in 2021 after a long career in high school, college and the NFL. He worked with Campbell at A&M from 1995-98.
Jill Costanza, the Lions' director of sports science, added assistant strength and conditioning coach to her title.
Among the departures from last year's staff: Morton was fired after the season, tight ends coach Tyler Roehl left to become offensive coordinator at Iowa State and assistant receivers coach Seth Ryan was hired as New York Jets pass game coordinator.
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 announce titles for new coaches Mike Kafka, Dan Skipper
Continue reading...
