This season, the Detroit Lions had the league’s best offense, a balanced assault built on a superb group of playmakers.
With offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leaving to become the head coach of the rival Chicago Bears, one insider expects the Lions to maintain continuity by promoting from within.
Ryan Love of USA Today’s Lions Wire published a list of the top internal prospects to replace Johnson and lead Detroit’s offense in 2025, including the assistant coaches who oversee the team’s passing and rushing offenses.
Lions Could Commit to Passing Game
According to Love, passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand has helped establish the Lions as an elite passing club in the NFL. The Lions constructed a formidable air attack around quarterback Jared Goff, who was acquired by the Lions in a 2022 trade as a former Los Angeles Ram.
Love stated that maintaining Engstrand as offensive coordinator would help the Lions to maintain a great level of continuity from past seasons.
“Engstrand has spent five seasons with the Lions, the second in his present capacity. This season, the Lions’ passing game ranked second in the league in passing yards, allowing Jared Goff to establish himself as a crucial member of one of the NFL’s finest offenses.
This option feels as close to keeping up with what Johnson built with the Lions offense.”
Another top candidate emerges.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Engstrand and assistant head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery are two of the leading candidates for the job.
Montgomery, according to Love, has 18 years of coaching experience in both the NFL and college, and he helped the Lions create a formidable running game. Detroit ranked sixth in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns this season.
“He’ll be a coach Campbell can trust immediately, and his experience justifies the opportunity for a promotion,” Love pointed out.
The Lions could consider other options, including offensive line coach Hank Fraley. The Lions have one of the league’s best offensive lines, and Fraley is highly regarded by players and head coach Dan Campbell.
Center Frank Ragnow endorsed Fraley, saying he was instrumental in establishing the Lions as the NFL’s top offense.
“I truly think he would be great,” Ragnow remarked, according to Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman. “He is intelligent, guy. He’s bright. He’s quite innovative with this offense. I know Ben gets a lot of credit or whatever, but Hank and the rest of the team are incredibly innovative and creative, and they do an excellent job.”
While the Lions won a franchise-record 15 games and received the first No. 1 overall seed in franchise history, they struggled in the playoffs, owing in large part to offensive blunders. The Lions threw four interceptions in a loss against the Washington Commanders, one of which came on an ill-timed trick play involving wide receiver Jameson Williams.