NFL Exec Rips Lions, 'A Lot About Detroit That Scares Me, But It’s Not the Players'

At least one NFL executive believes the Detroit Lions will be a less formidable team after losing former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets in this offseason's coaching cycle.

"There would be a lot about Detroit that scares me, but it's not the players," that executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando.

There's no doubting the talent Detroit has amassed on the field, but new offensive coordinator John Morton has just one season of play-calling experience, as Sando noted, while new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has none. That's a big transition from two of the more highly regarded coordinators in the league, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where Johnson was regarded as one of the more creative play-callers.

"Johnson took total advantage of the four-down game-management approach because he's a really, really good play caller, an evil genius, really," another executive told Sando. "Losing him would almost be like the Rams losing Sean McVay."

Glenn, meanwhile, had to make do with a patchwork defense this past season after injuries hit the Lions hard.

"I will be curious with role players if there is a dropoff because you have to have a vision for how to deploy these guys," an executive told Sando. "Glenn was really good at that, getting the best out of a Derrick Barnes and those guys."

The price of success is turnover. Other teams want your coaches and are willing to poach your players above market value in free agency.

The champion Philadelphia Eagles just lost offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, for example, and a slew of players on the open market. That's the challenge most years for contending teams, and it will be the primary hurdle for Dan Campbell in 2025 as he looks to get the Lions to the Super Bowl.