Detroit Free Press

Ben Johnson was eager to take the first head coaching interviews of his life after spending the past 11 years as an NFL assistant. And while Johnson’s boss encouraged him to explore his options, the Detroit Lions‘ offensive coordinator ultimately decided he was in too good a spot to leave. Johnson, in comments made to
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Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor (@shawnwindsor) and Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) • Producer: Andrew Hammond • Editor: Robin Chan • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: This week, Carlos & Shawn have the Michigan State community in their hearts and minds. Later, the guys discuss the Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Pistons trade for James Wiseman. Catch
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Several years ago, I was in the Detroit Lions locker room speaking with cornerbacks about the changing nature of the NFL and how much more of a pass-friendly league it had become. Chris Houston listed all the benefits offenses enjoyed. More stringent rules against hitting the quarterback were being instituted. Very little contact was allowed
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While metro Detroit prepares for the April return of the Michigan Panthers in Year 2 of the USFL’s reboot — now with games at Ford Field! — there’s another league revving up a reboot beginning next weekend. It’s time for the XFL, Version 3.0, which kicks off Feb. 18 in Arlington, Texas (and elsewhere). The
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After ranking near the top of the NFL in games lost due to player injuries for the second straight year, the Detroit Lions will have a new director of player health and performance in 2023. Arizona Cardinals physical therapist consultant Brett Fischer announced on social media he is leaving to become director of player health
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Aidan Hutchinson said being passed over for the first pick in last year’s NFL draft “will stick with me forever.” Now, the Detroit Lions defensive end has another sleight to use for motivation. Hutchinson, the second pick of last year’s draft, finished second in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting announced Thursday, behind New
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Ben Johnson withdrew his name from head coaching consideration last month because he had “unfinished business” as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator – business that might now include winning assistant coach of the year. Former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, The Associated Press announced just before
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Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor (@shawnwindsor) and Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) • Producer: Andrew Hammond • Editor: Robin Chan • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Guest: Dave Birkett, Free Press Lions beat writer • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: This week, Free Press Lions beat writer Dave Birkett joins the guys to once again ponder over “the quarterback discussion” and what the Detroit Lions should
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The Detroit Lions showed significant improvement in their secondary after a midseason coaching change last year, and the man who took over as the primary defensive backs coach is being rewarded. The Lions announced the previously reported hire of Scottie Montgomery as running backs coach Wednesday and shuffled the roles of several other assistants on
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It happened once, twice, a dozen times Monday. As a crowd of reporters gathered around Darius Slay at Super Bowl LVII media night pelting him with questions, one reporter vying for the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback’s attention shouted, Hey, Darius. “It’s Slay,” Slay corrected him. Darius … “It’s Slay. You know it’s Slay.” Darius! “Slay, Slay,
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The Detroit Lions have a new running backs coach — and a new potential in-house replacement for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, should they need one a year from now. The Lions are hiring Scottie Montgomery as their new running backs coach and assistant head coach, NFL Network reported Monday. Montgomery spent the past two seasons
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MOBILE, Ala. — One of the benefits of coaching in the Senior Bowl is getting hands-on experience with some of the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft. Dan Campbell’s entire staff coached the game last season, when the Detroit Lions spent two Day 2 picks on Senior Bowl standouts, defensive lineman Josh Paschal and
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