The Detroit Lions have lost seven assistant coaches this offseason, and they are continuing the process of filling some lower-level roles under new coordinators John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard. On Thursday morning, they hired former NFL quarterback and St. Louis Battlehawks offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski as an offensive assistant.
According to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports/CBS Sports, the Lions are expected to interview former NFL running back Darren Sproles for a spot on the coaching staff. He has been a personnel consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles, the final team he played for, since 2020, and is now getting into coaching. According to Zenitz Sproles has generated interest at the NFL and college levels during this coaching cycle, but it's unclear if he has interviewed anywhere else.
As a player, Sproles defied the odds as an undersized running back and had a long career, playing 15 seasons (2005-2019) for the San Diego Chargers, the New Orleans Saints and the Eagles. He was a three-time Pro Bowler (2014-2016), and in 2011 while playing for the Saints he set the NFL single-season record for all-purpose yards (2,696) that still stands. He was one of the best all-purpose backs we've seen in the league, finishing his career with 3,552 rushing yards, 4,480 receiving yards, 11,313 kick and punt return yards and 62 total touchdowns. He topped 50 receptions in a season six times.
It would be easy to assume, but Sproles and Lions head coach Dan Campbell did not overlap in New Orleans.
Lions to interview Darren Sproles for a coaching role
The role Sproles would have on the Lions' coaching staff is unclear. They did not have an assistant running backs coach under Scottie Montgomery this past season, but they have had one in the past. In any case, if he is hired, Sproles is certainly someone Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery can benefit from having around. Looking at Sproles' own career though, 2024 fourth-round pick Sione Vaki stands to uniquely benefit from his influence if ends up on the Lions' coaching staff.
