Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today the team’s 2026 coaching staff.
2026 DETROIT LIONS COACHING STAFF
Dan Campbell – Head Coach
Drew Petzing – Offensive Coordinator
Kelvin Sheppard – Defensive Coordinator
Dave Fipp – Special Teams Coordinator
Scottie Montgomery – Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers
Jim O’Neil – Assistant Head Coach/Safeties
Mark Brunell – Quarterbacks
Tashard Choice – Running Backs
Caleb Collins – Defensive Assistant
David Corrao – Senior Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers
Hank Fraley – Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
Bruce Gradkowski – Assistant Wide Receivers
Shaun Dion Hamilton – Linebackers
Mike Kafka – Pass Game Coordinator
August Mangin – Defensive Assistant
Justin Mesa – Offensive Quality Control
Jett Modkins – Assistant Special Teams
Steve Oliver – Tight Ends
Kacy Rodgers – Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line
David Shaw – Pass Game Specialist
Dan Skipper – Offensive Assistant
Dre Thompson – WCF Minority Coaching Assistant/Defensive Quality Control
Deshea Townsend – Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Marques Tuiasosopo – Offensive Assistant
Josh Schuler – Head Strength & Conditioning
Jill Costanza – Assistant Strength & Conditioning/Director of Sports Science
Cam Josse – Assistant Strength & Conditioning
Thadeus Jackson – Assistant Strength & Conditioning
Jesse Giambra – Chief of Staff/Head Coach Administration
MIKE KAFKA – PASS GAME COORDINATOR
Mike Kafka joins the Lions as the passing game coordinator in 2026 after spending the previous four seasons (2022-25) with the New York Giants, serving as interim head coach (2025), assistant head coach/offensive coordinator (2024-25) and offensive coordinator (2022-23). In 2025, Kafka helped the Giants ranked second in the NFL in rushing attempts (511), tie for fourth in rushing touchdowns (22) and rank fifth in rushing yards (2,195). He also helped WR Malik Nabers set the single-season franchise record for receptions (109) in 2024.
Kafka began his NFL coaching career with the Kansas City Chiefs, serving as quarterbacks/passing game coordinator (2020-21), quarterbacks coach (2018-19) and offensive quality control coach (2017). During his five seasons in Kansas City, the team led the NFL in net yards (32,283), first downs (1,872), points scored (2,382), touchdowns scored (277) and wins (60). Kafka won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs and helped the team reach Super Bowl LV during his tenure.
Kafka’s first coaching position came as an offensive graduate assistant at Northwester in 2016.
Prior to embarking on his coaching career, Kafka was originally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Northwestern. Having stints with the Eagles (2010-12), New England Patriots (2013), Jacksonville Jaguars (2013), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014), Minnesota Vikings (2015), Tennessee Titans (2015) and Cincinnati Bengals (2015), Kafka appeared in four games during his career.
DAN SKIPPER – OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT
Skipper enters his first coaching position in 2026 following an extensive professional playing career. Originally signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2017, Skipper retired following the 2025 NFL season after accumulating 69 games played (16 starts) in stints with the Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.
