Detroit Lions offensive coordinator candidates: 10 names to know

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator candidates: 10 names to know

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions announced the firing of offensive coordinator John Morton. Morton spent just one season in the role, and Morton was replaced less than halfway through the season when Lions head coach Dan Campbell assumed offensive play-calling responsibilities in early November.

As the Lions navigate a vital offensive coordinator search, here’s 10 names to know as potential Detroit Lions offensive coordinator candidates.

Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 21: Offensive coordinator Todd Monken of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Todd Monken, 59, is still the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator at the present moment. But, the Ravens just fired head coach John Harbaugh and some of the reports are that Harbaugh’s refusal to fire Monken is part of the reason why Harbaugh was ultimately let go.

If that is indeed the case, Monken isn’t destined to be in Baltimore much longer and is poised to become one of the most well-respected, seasoned offensive minds on the coaching market. Of course, Monken has also received a request to interviewed by the Cleveland Browns for its vacant head coaching position.

Monken joined Baltimore in 2022 after helping lead the Georgia Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships as its offensive coordinator.

In 2024, the Ravens became the first NFL team with over 4,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing in a season. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for more than 4,000 yards and a career-high 41 touchdown passes against just four interceptions.

Brian Daboll, former New York Giants head coach

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Most recently the New York Giants head coach, Brian Daboll, 50, was named the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Giants to nine regular-season victories, clinching the team’s first playoff berth in six years and its first postseason victory in 11 seasons. Daboll posted a 20-40-1 record across four seasons as the Giants’ head coach.

Prior to coaching the Giants, Daboll served as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator for four seasons, including the 2020 campaign when he was voted the Associated Press’ NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. The Bills ranked third in the NFL in scoring offense with 28.4 points per game and fifth in total offense with 381.9 yards per game during the 2021 season.

Daboll has also served as the offensive coordinator at Cleveland (2009-10), Miami (2011) and Kansas City (2012). Dan Campbell worked alongside Daboll during the 2011 season in Miami when Campbell was the Dolphins’ tight ends coach.

Kliff Kingsbury, former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator

Nov 13, 2025; Madrid, Spain; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury at press conference at Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After serving the past two seasons as its offensive coordinator, the Washington Commanders fired Kliff Kingsbury. In Kingsbury’s offense and under his tutelage, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 as he passed for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for an additional 891 yards and six touchdowns.

With Daniels banged up in 2025, the Commanders’ passing offense struggled, though. Kingsbury, 46, was the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach from 2019-22.

Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson coaches from the sidelines during the game against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Like others in Atlanta, Zac Robinson’s future is in limbo now that the organization fired head coach Raheem Morris. The Falcons are also in the midst of a search to fill its newly-created president of football role, which has ties to the Lions, but could also mean more changes are on the way in Atlanta.

Robinson, 39, overlapped with Goff while the two were a part of the Los Angeles Rams organization (2019-20), including one as an assistant quarterbacks coach.

David Blough, Washington Commanders assistant quarterbacks coach

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 27: David Blough #10 of the Detroit Lions watches the action during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Ford Field on August 27, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. The Colts defeated the Lions 27-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

David Blough, a former Lions quarterback for parts of five seasons, was the first reported name linked to Detroit’s offensive coordinator opening.

Blough, 30, just finished his second season as the Washington Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach. When Tavita Pritchard vacated his role with the Commanders to become Stanford’s next head football coach, Blough stepped in and took over for Pritchard as quarterbacks coach over Washington’s final five games.

When Dan Campbell took over as Lions head coach in 2021, Blough was one of the backups to Goff.

Declan Doyle, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears look on prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Declan Doyle, 30, is in his first season as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator. Even though he’s not been calling the plays offensively, bringing in someone that has worked underneath former Lions OC and first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson could be attractive to Campbell and Detroit for obvious reasons.

Prior to joining Chicago, Doyle served as the Denver Broncos’ tight ends coach. Doyle was also an offensive assistant in New Orleans for four seasons (2019-22).

Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator

Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Nate Scheelhaase, 35, is another one of the young, bright minds in the NFL. In his second season with the Los Angeles Rams and his first as the Rams’ pass game coordinator, Scheelhaase has helped Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford author a likely MVP campaign and lead the league in both passing yardage (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46).

Thomas Brown, New England Patriots tight ends coach / passing game coordinator

Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Thomas Brown, 39, joined the New England Patriots this season as its tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. With Brown in the fold, the Patriots’ total offense ranks third (379.4 yards per game), its passing offense ranks fourth (250.5 passing yards per game) and New England is second in scoring offense (28.8 points per game).

Prior to joining New England, Brown was the Bears’ offensive passing game coordinator and then served as the interim head coach of Chicago to close the 2024 season.

Brown was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and assumed play-calling duties mid-season.

Scottie Montgomery, Lions assistant head coach / wide receivers coach

Detroit Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery speaks at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, Jan.3, 2025.

Scottie Montgomery, 47, has coached both running backs and wide receivers for the Lions. As the Lions’ wide receivers coach this past season, Montgomery coached a group that boasted the NFL’s only receivers duo to both finish inside the league’s top 10 receiving yardage leaders.

During his time in Detroit, Montgomery has overseen the development of one of the league’s top running back tandems in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

Montgomery has been an offensive coordinator at two of his college jobs, Duke (2013-15) and Maryland (2019-20). Montgomery interviewed for the Lions’ OC vacancy last year.

Hank Fraley, Lions run game coordinator / offensive line coach

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 27: Detroit Lions Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley watches the action from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Ford Field on August 27, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. The Colts defeated the Lions 27-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Hank Fraley, 48, could be another in-house option. Fraley interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks OC job last year and has been with the Lions organization from 2018-present.

Under Fraley’s watch, the Lions built a reputation as one of the league’s most dominant offensive lines. While the Lions’ offensive line play wasn’t up to its standard in 2025, Fraley’s work with Detroit’s offensive lines and its run game has become one of the franchise hallmarks in recent years.

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