8 Candidates To Replace Duce Staley
Duce Staley’s departure leaves a big hole in the Lions' coaching staff.
The former NFL running back wore multiple hats while working with Detroit head coach Dan Campbell for two seasons. He served as both the team’s running backs coach and assistant head coach.
Reports surfaced Wednesday that Staley is headed to the Carolina Panthers to join new head coach Frank Reich’s staff.
With Staley gone, here are eight candidates who could fill his position as running backs coach for the Lions in 2023.
Tanner Engstrand
Engstrand was the team’s tight ends coach last season, but Campbell and company recently hired Steve Heiden off the Arizona Cardinals’ staff to the same position.
Reports indicate that Engstrand will remain with the team to help as the passing game coordinator. Could he add the responsibility of coaching the running backs?
Jett Modkins
Modkins is another choice to be promoted internally. Currently serving as a special teams assistant, he has been with the Lions for two seasons.
Modkins is the son of Curtis Modkins, who is currently the running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He played collegiately at two community colleges in Arizona: Glendale and Mesa.
If the Lions want more experience, they could make a run at the elder Modkins in an effort to join his son on staff.
Jeff Nixon
The Lions could turn Staley’s departure into a de facto trade by hiring Nixon, who is currently the Panthers' running backs coach. There’s familiarity between him and Campbell, too, as the two were together in Miami for four seasons.
Nixon has seen his role in Carolina grow since joining the staff in 2020. He’s called plays in the past, and did a good job in 2022 following the trade of Christian McCaffrey. He’s set to interview for the offensive coordinator vacancy held by the Dallas Cowboys, a sign that he is a commodity.
DeMarco Murray
Murray fits the former player mold established by Campbell amongst his staff of assistants. He spent seven seasons in the league, and went over 1,000 rushing yards in three different seasons.
He’s served as the running backs coach at Oklahoma since 2020, and was at Arizona before that. Murray has coached talented backs in his short tenure, including current New England Patriots starter Rhamondre Stevenson.
BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Kevin Smith
Before beginning his career as a coach, Smith was a pro for five seasons with the Lions. Fans may remember his tenure, spanning from 2008-12. In that span, he rushed for a total of 598 yards and 17 touchdowns while battling injuries.
Now, he’s the running backs coach at Miami (Florida), where he just finished his first season. Prior to that, he held coaching roles at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.
Dell McGee
Sticking with former Lions, McGee was drafted by Detroit in the 1996 NFL Draft. Though his time with the Lions was short, he is a noteworthy candidate because of his connection to current Lions running back D’Andre Swift.
McGee has been with the Bulldogs since 2016, meaning he mentored Swift for the entirety of his collegiate career. Under McGee’s tutelage, Swift twice topped 1,000 yards on the ground. He also coached the likes of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel at Georgia.
Joel Thomas
Thomas is currently the running backs coach for the New Orleans Saints, a position he’s held for eight seasons. This means he’s linked to Campbell, as the two were together under Sean Payton for five seasons.
He’s coached several significant players, such as Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. It would be intriguing to see the two working together again, with Campbell serving as the head coach.
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams
Williams is, admittedly, a far-fetched candidate, after recently receiving a promotion to the title of assistant head coach at his alma mater: Auburn. Still, it’s worth noting the job he did at Auburn last season while serving as the interim head coach.
The Tigers were 2-2 under his leadership in 2022, and he was kept by new head coach Hugh Freeze. The former All-Pro running back has done a good job with the Tigers, and is a rising star among the coaching ranks.
