The Detroit Lions lost their first assistant coach, defensive backs coach Brian Duker, off last year’s coaching staff. But Lions fans on social media didn’t seem too upset about it.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on February 10 that Duker is joining the Miami Dolphins coaching staff for 2024.
“The Dolphins are hiring Brian Duker as their secondary coach/pass game coordinator per source,” Pelissero wrote. “Duker spent the past three seasons with the Lions, most recently as Des coach.”
The general reaction on X (formerly Twitter) was that Duker will not be a big loss for Detroit.
“Hiring off the Lions secondary is crazy,” wrote Lucas Thomas.
Spliff simply posted a laughing gif that appeared to hint that he considers the Dolphins hiring Duker as funny.
Duker has eight years of NFL coaching experience. He joined the Lions in Dan Campbell’s first season in 2021.
Lions DB Coach Brian Duker Leaving for Miami Dolphins
Duker is essentially leaving for South Florida because of a promotion. As Pelissero indicated, the Dolphins are adding pass game coordinator to his title. It will be the first time Duker will hold a position technically above a position coach.
He began his coaching career in 2015 as a defensive intern with the Cleveland Browns. Duker was then a defensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
After a year away from the NFL, Duker joined the Baltimore Ravens staff as a defensive assistant and coaching analyst. He remained in that role for three seasons until joining the Lions.
Duker steadily rose the coaching rankings in three seasons with the Lions. He served as a defensive assistant coach in 2021 and then safeties coach in 2022. He became the team’s defensive backs coach for 2023.
Some Lions fans celebrated Duker’s departure likely because of the team’s defensive performance against the pass in 2023. The Lions finished 27th in pass defense and 29th in net yards allowed per pass attempt last season.
“Worst secondary in the league,” Molson Ice wrote on X in response to Duker joining the Dolphins.
Cooter on X tried to bite his tongue but was obviously pleased Duker is leaving.
“Don’t want to be rude to him and thank for his time in Detroit. BUT”
@TomPelissero Don’t want to be rude to him and thank for his time in Detroit. BUT
Other fans defended Duker because of the players he worked with in the Detroit secondary. Chris Berzins joked that perhaps Duker, “can take Cam Sutton with him.”
Cameron Sutton was one of Detroit’s big free agent signings in the secondary last season. But Sutton underperformed during 2023.
Lions Reportedly Adding Terrell Williams, Deshea Townsend to Coaching Staff
Detroit has yet to announce any official changes to its coaching staff. That includes Duker.
But The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the Lions have added veteran Terrell Williams as defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Pro Football Talk reported that the Lions also hired Townsend as defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Williams and Townsend both coached in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively, last season.
In 2023, John Scott and Dré Bly coached the Lions defensive line and cornerbacks, respectively. It remains unclear whether they will be returning to Detroit in different coaching roles.
With Duker’s departure, the defensive backs coaching role is now open.
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Social Media Reacts Positively to Lions Losing First Coach of 2024 Offseason