Vikings’ Rival Coaching Staff Decimated by 2025 NFL Coaching Carousel

By Ted Schwerzler |

Updated: Jan 22, 2025

The only team to beat the Minnesota Vikings twice during the 2024 regular season was the Detroit Lions, after a Week 18 matchup, with the NFC’s top seed on the line, saw Dan Campbell’s squad emerge as NFC North Champions for the second-straight season.

It’s possible that the 2025 version of the Lions look similar to the 15-win team from 2024, at least on the field. If they are lucky, the future Detroit Lions will have more luck in the injury department. But that will not be the case with the 2025 Lions coaching staff.

Minnesota Vikings will prepare for a new Lions staff

Just one week after their 2024-25 playoff run ended, the Detroit Lions have seen a mass exodus of top coaching talent. Both of Campbell’s top assistants, (OC) Ben Johnson and (DC) Aaron Glenn have left for head coaching jobs in Chicago and New York, respectively. But the Lions have also lost DL coach Terrell Williams and could still lose OL coach Hank Fraley.

’24 Lions Coach	Role w/Lions	New Team	New Role
Ben Johnson	Offensive Coordinator	Chicago Bears	Head Coach
Aaron Glenn	Defensive Coordinator	New York Jets	Head Coach
Terrell Williams	Defensive Line	New England Partiots	Defensive Coordinator
Hank Fraley*	Offensive Line	Seattle Seahawks	Offensive Coordinator

*Fraley was rumored as Bears OC and is still in play for the Seahawks job.

This is certainly a lot for Campbell to navigate. He is coming off a second successful season as the leader of the Lions. Last season the Lions made a trip to the NFC Championship. Detroit lost to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders in the divisional round this season.

If Vikings leader Kevin O’Connell wasn’t going to win the Coach of the Year award, then Dan Campbell probably would have. Next season we’ll find out how much of the Detroit Lions success in 2024 was due to his coaching or that of the coaches around him.

Syndication: Detroit Free Press — Credit: Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Detroit has not experienced this level of success, maybe ever, and Campbell finding a way to sustain it is a must. There’s no denying that his leadership has worked wonders. It remains to be seen what tangible impact he has had between the lines.

Ultimately the Vikings and Lions will both be looking to substantiate their results this season in the year ahead. Continuity is something that Minnesota will experience. The exact opposite is what Detroit is in for.

It will be a wait and see game to determine where Campbell backfills all of these roles. If he gets the hires right, maybe Detroit avoids the doldrums once again.