Dan Campbell‘s first coaching staff with the Detroit Lions is nearly complete.
The Lions announced the hiring of Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator Wednesday, and are expected to retain tight ends coach Ben Johnson.
Lynn’s hiring was reported over the weekend. He was running backs coach of the Dallas Cowboys during Campbell’s final season playing for the team in 2006.
Lynn spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and has one year of play calling experience, with the Buffalo Bills in 2016, when the Bills led the NFL in rushing offense and finished 30th in the league in passing.
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Johnson, who spent the past two seasons with the Lions, worked with Campbell with the Miami Dolphins and succeeded Campbell as tight ends coach in 2015, after Campbell was promoted to interim head coach.
Johnson joined the Lions as an offensive quality control assistant in 2019 and coached tight ends this season, where he helped T.J. Hockenson reach the Pro Bowl in his second year.
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ESPN reported the Lions are hiring Mark DeLeone as linebackers coach. DeLeone coached inside linebackers for the Chicago Bears in 2019-20.
The Lions previously announced the hires of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp. Offensive line coach Hank Fraley also has agreed to return, and Duce Staley (running backs) and Aubrey Pleasant (defensive backs) also are expected to join the staff.
Campbell still needs to hire coaches for the defensive line, quarterback and wide receiver positions.
“I’m going to find the right staff,” Campbell said in his introductory news conference last week. “I’m going to find a staff that’s not loaded with just a bunch of people that look good on paper.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.