3 Lions coaches who will soon be on everyone's lists for coordinator interviews

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The Detroit Lions have formed themselves a pretty solid coaching staff after a big brain drain ahead of the 2025 season. This off-season, they’ve shown that just because the Lions weren’t a playoff team, that doesn’t mean that teams aren’t interested in building and playing like them. The Lions have had multiple coaches get interviews for coordinator and head coach jobs in the last month. That’s going to keep happening.

You know the usual; suspect who are likely to get interviews next year. Mike Kafka, Scottie Montgomery, and Kelvin Sheppard. But what about some of the guys you don’t know about? Let’s talk about some of the guys who are working their way up the coaching ranks and could soon get looks for coordinator jobs.

Offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo

Tuiasosopo has only been in Detroit for one season, but his impact on the team was felt immediately. Every quarterback on the roster spoke highly of him and talked about how he helped with their game. This off-season, the Lions sent Tuiasosopo to the Senior Bowl to coach quarterbacks. Usually, when a coach gets sent to these All-Star games, it’s a sign that the team sees the coach as someone they can build up.

Tuiasosopo has been an offensive coordinator and a quarterbacks coach at the college level, and he could soon find himself as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL. The next step up for him would be the OC spot.

Defensive quality control coach Dre Thompson

Speaking of sending guys to All-Star games, Thompson spent the last week and change coaching defensive backs at the Shrine Bowl. The former Texas A&M defensive back is in his third season on the Lions’ staff, and he’s grown his job more and more every year. He’s helped the Lions a lot in the secondary, and the team credits him for his work with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

The next step for Thompson is likely a defensive backs coaching gig somewhere. Potentially Detroit if the Lions move on from Deshea Townsend or if he moves on from them. Keep an eye on Thompson. He’s trending to be a defensive coordinator someday.

Assistant special teams coordinator Jett Modkins

Modkins is going into his sixth season with the Lions, and the reviews have always been good for him from special teams coordinator Dave Fipp. Modkins is already getting interviews. He interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ special teams coordinator job in January. Those interviews are likely to keep coming.

Related: Offensive tackle no longer seems like it has to be first round move for the Lions

This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Jan 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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