Up to date Dec. 9, 2025, 5:45 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions had eight teaching vacancies after successful essentially the most video games in franchise historical past final season. They will have no less than one in 2026.
Lions tight ends coach Tyler Roehl is predicted to hitch Iowa State‘s workers as an assistant, league sources informed the Free Press. Iowa State has not introduced the rent but, however Roehl is predicted to be the college’s offensive coordinator.
Roehl, who joined the Lions workers in February after spending the 2024 season as Iowa State’s assistant head coach/working backs coach, stays with the crew in preparation for this week’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams.
Iowa State launched former Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers as its new coach on Monday, Dec. 8 (changing Matt Campbell, who took the vacant job at Penn State). Rogers coached at South Dakota State coach in 2023-24 after serving as an assistant on the college in 2013-22, a span when he competed in opposition to Roehl at North Dakota State.
Lions coach Dan Campbell mentioned he employed Roehl final winter after first interviewing him for a training place in 2023. Roehl and Campbell first met at North Dakota State’s professional day in 2021, when Campbell and Lions normal supervisor Brad Holmes watched quarterback Trey Lance.
The 2 stayed in contact, and Campbell focused Roehl to exchange Steve Heiden when Heiden left to turn into offensive line coach of the New York Jets final winter.
In Detroit, Roehl has overseen a decent finish room ravaged by accidents. Starter Sam LaPorta underwent season-ending again surgical procedure in November, backup Brock Wright was positioned on injured reserve final week with a trachea damage and Shane Zylstra and Kenny Yeboah, who have been competing for the No. 3 job this summer season, suffered accidents in traning camp.
The Lions have simply two tight ends on their 53-man roster, Anthony Firkser and Hayden Rucci, although Zylstra returned to follow final week and is eligible to be activated off injured reserve.
Roehl mentioned earlier this yr “it has been unbelievable for me in my profession to study” from Campbell and coach with the Lions.
“Somebody who’s extraordinarily captivated with not solely the game however this crew, this place, this group, the town,” he mentioned. “How he embodies what this place represents in grit, and the way the messaging is about grit and we’re all on a mission to do issues higher than they’ve ever been executed earlier than. That is the mission, that is why we’re right here. And we will work tirelessly to perform that mission.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Observe him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
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