The Detroit Lions have added another coach to their staff. As first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates, the Lions are hiring linebackers coach Mark DeLeone from the Chicago Bears.
DeLeone had spent the past two seasons with Chicago, following Matt Nagy, whom he coached alongside with at Kansas City for years. He got his start at the University of Iowa as a defensive assistant. In 2012, he got his first break in the NFL as the Jets defensive assistant.
He’s been coaching the linebacker position since 2016, helping players like Roquan Smith grow his career. In Kansas City, he also worked alongside Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland, who is set to become a free agent in March.
DeLeone apparently decided to move on from Chicago after defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano retired and the Bears announced safeties coach Sean Desai had gotten the promotion to replace Pagano. DeLeone is not currently listed on the Bears coaching staff on their official website.
In addition to DeLeone, the Lions officially announced Anthony Lynn as their next offensive coordinator, as previously reported. Also, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free press is reporting that tight ends coach Ben Johnson is being retained by the Lions.
So their coaching staff officially looks like this right now.
Head coach: Dan Campbell
Offensive coordinator: Anthony Lynn
OL coach: Hank Fraley
RB coach/assistant head coach: Duce Staley
TE coach: Ben Johnson
WR coach:
QB coach:
Defensive coordinator: Aaron Glenn
DL coach:
LB coach: Mark DeLeone
DB coach: Aubrey Pleasant
Special teams coordinator: Dave Fipp