To say that the 2025 season was a disappointment for the Detroit Lions would be a massive understatement. That being said, going through this might be just what the Lions needed to make some tough decisions and necessary adjustments.
Notably, that might mean moving on from both primary assistant coaches. Offensive coordinator John Morton was already on the hot seat after being striped off play-calling duties. Now, with Jim Schwartz potentially being up for grabs, that could also spell trouble for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Lions Need to Lure Jim Schwartz Back to Detroit
With the Cleveland Browns firing head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday, his defensive coordinator could also be on his way out. Schwartz should be given an opportunity to interview for the head coaching position, and, given the solid job he's done in three years in Cleveland, the team should look to keep him around, even if they hire someone else for the job.
That being said, the Lions would be wise to bring him back to Ford Field. He isn't exactly a stranger to the Motor City, having gone 29-51 from 2009 to 2013, which includes when Detroit snapped its then-12-year playoff drought with a 10-win performance in 2011. It wasn't the best run, but it did remind Lions fans that the postseason wasn't an impossibility.
Head coach Dan Campbell has shown his support for Sheppard, but he hasn't necessarily committed to bringing him back as a defensive coordinator. Even if he does, they could still try to get Schwartz as a defensive assistant if the Browns fire him and he doesn't land another job as a defensive coordinator, although that sounds more unlikely.
Sheppard's first season in place of ex-DC Aaron Glenn was a mixed bag. There were some promising early returns, but the team fell back to Earth in the second half of the season. Moreover, his latest comments about not making many changes to the defensive schemes raised questions about whether he's the right guy for the job.
With Schwartz at the helm, the Browns gave up the fourth-fewest total yards per game (283.6) and total yards per play (4.8) this season. He's been working with record-breaking pass rusher Myles Garrett for three years now, and it'd be interesting to see if he could help Aidan Hutchinson unlock the next level of his game.
As expected, losing Glenn and Ben Johnson was a lethal blow to this team. Still, the talent is there, and the players and the organization are as sold on Campbell as they've always been. The front office just needs to give him the help he needs.
And after watching what Schwartz has done in Cleveland in the past three years, it's hard to think of a better candidate to fix the defense.