Deshea Townsend will be Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions’ third defensive backs coach in three years. Despite the turnover, Townsend isn’t afraid to speak his thoughts.
In his first media appearance as a Lions defensive coach, Townsend made it obvious that he expects Lions defensive backs to be physical next season.
“If you won’t tackle, you won’t play,” Townsend told the media. “If I turn on the tape and you don’t tackle, you can’t play.
“I’m just looking for guys that don’t shy away from contact.”
The Lions have been a physical team since Campbell took over as head coach in 2021. However, according to Pro Football Focus, the Lions could place more emphasis on tackling next season.
PFF evaluated Detroit’s defense as the fifth-worst in tackling (with a 41.2 out of 100) for the 2023 season.
Deshea Townsend Bringing a Physical Mindset to Lions Secondary
It’s not surprising that Townsend prioritizes aggressiveness in his coaching. Townsend played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite being short at 5’10” and 190 pounds, he averaged 41.5 combined tackles each season as a full-time player from 2002 to 2007.
During that six-year span, Townsend started 69 games for the Steelers. However, in 2008, Townsend lost his outside cornerback position to younger defensive backs.
Townsend thrived in the slot that season, and the Steelers benefited as a result. Furthermore, following the transfer, Pittsburgh had the best pass defense in 2008.
So, in addition to physicality, it’s not surprising that Townsend will prioritize competition.
“When I get in the room, I tell the young guys, it’s your job to take the starters’ job, and the starters, it’s your job to hold them off,” Townsend told reporters, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. “And it’s the same thing with coaching. You have to make sure you’re doing your best at all times; you have to prove yourself on a daily basis, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from myself than I do from them.”
With the Lions, Townsend will begin his 11th season as an NFL secondary or defensive backs coach.
In 2011, he began his coaching career as the Arizona Cardinals’ assistant defensive backs coach. He spent the previous two seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Townsend has previously coached for the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Bears.
In 2024, Townsend will be Detroit’s defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Dan Campbell receives an elite grade in the NFLPA survey.
Although Campbell has yet to locate the ideal defensive backs coach for the Lions, he performed admirably in the latest NFLPA survey findings.
The NFLPA revealed the findings of its annual poll on February 28. The Lions achieved higher marks in the workplace condition areas. However, Campbell led the way as one of three head coaches to receive an A-plus.
“The guys love him,” NFLPA president JC Tretter told the Detroit Free Press. “There were a lot of guys who wrote open-ended responses about how important he is to them, how much he leads them, and how much they enjoy playing for him.
“So it’s always intriguing to see how males interact and how much their experience affects. I believe Dan’s background as a former player helps him there because he understands what the boys are going through, can push them, and is very collaborative.
Campbell served ten years in the NFL as a tight end. He spent his final three seasons with the Lions.
Campbell’s record as Lions head coach is 24-26-1 over three seasons. However, the Lions have won two consecutive seasons and will compete in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1992 in 2023-24.
Campbell also has a 5-7 record as interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2015.
Andy Reid and Kevin O’Connell were the other two head coaches who received A-plus grades from Campbell.
