The Detroit Lions have hired Terrell Williams as their defensive line coach and Deshea Townsend as their secondary coach, according to reports throughout the past two weeks.
The organization formally announced the hiring of Townsend as their new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator and Williams as their new defensive line coach and run game coordinator on Wednesday. Brian Duker, who left to pursue a position with the Miami Dolphins, will be replaced by Townsend.
It was also reported that Jim O’Neil, a defensive assistant, would be the third new hiring.
The organization formally announced the hiring of Townsend as their new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator and Williams as their new defensive line coach and run game coordinator on Wednesday. Brian Duker, who left to pursue a position with the Miami Dolphins, will be replaced by Townsend.
It was also reported that Jim O’Neil, a defensive assistant, would be the third new hiring.
O’Neil served 11 seasons as an NFL assistant with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders,San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator at Northwestern (2021 and 2022).
Along with his coaching background, O’Neil had three seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator: two with the Browns (2014–2015) and one with the 49ers (2016). Throughout his coaching career, he has primarily coached defensive backs, which seems to motivate
As previously reported, Duker left to take on the role as passing game coordinator and secondary coach for the Dolphins. Williams is taking Scott’s place. Townsend was supposed to replace Duker as the Lions’ cornerbacks coach, but Bly is still gone even if Townsend’s title is now more inclusive.
It appears that the Lions still need to fill three positions on their coaching staff for 2024: an offensive assistant, defensive quality control, and a coach for cornerbacks. However, the most significant additions and changes—Williams and Townsend, which had previously been rumored but not O’Neil—are now official.
