The Detroit Lions’ coaching staff continues to draw attention across the NFL. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially began their search for a new special teams coordinator by interviewing Lions assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins, highlighting once again how respected the Lions’ operation has become under Dan Campbell.
The Main Points
Tampa Bay’s search comes after the team parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey earlier this week. Their first known interview was conducted virtually and focused on Jett Modkins, who has spent the past five seasons working under Dave Fipp. During that span, Detroit’s special teams unit has consistently ranked among the league’s best in coverage, discipline, and overall efficiency, becoming a quiet but important strength of the roster.
Modkins began his NFL coaching career in 2021 when Fipp arrived in Detroit, and the growth of the unit since then has not gone unnoticed. Around the league, teams are increasingly viewing Detroit as a pipeline for rising coaching talent, and this interview represents a potential jump from an assistant role to a full coordinator position.
Why This Matters for Detroit
From the Lions’ perspective, this is another sign that the rest of the NFL is paying close attention to what is being built in Allen Park. When opposing teams start targeting position coaches and assistants for coordinator jobs, it speaks volumes about the culture, development, and results inside the organization. Detroit’s special teams have been a competitive edge over the last several seasons, and the interest from Tampa Bay only reinforces how highly that group is regarded.
Whether or not Modkins lands the job, the interview itself underscores the growing reputation of the Lions’ coaching staff and the likelihood that more of Campbell’s assistants will continue to surface in future hiring cycles.
