Scottie Montgomery talks role change, working with Jamo, non-negotiables and coming back to finish the job
Indianapolis — This past week, while at the NFL’s scouting combine, I had the opportunity to sit down with Detroit Lions assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery to speak about his switch from leading the team’s running backs to working with the wide receivers.
We discussed how the change came about, the reaction of the running backs, Montgomery’s confidence in his replacement and his excitement to work with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the non-negotiable to play wide receiver for the Lions, the persisting need for an X receiver, the responsibilities of an assistant head under Dan Campbell, and why Montgomery wanted to return to Detroit despite outside interest.
Making the switch
Montgomery, who played receiver at Duke and during his brief pro career, got his coaching start working with the position at his alma mater in 2006 before a three-year stint on Mike Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh from 2010-12. There, Montgomery worked with Hines Ward, Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Plaxico Burress and former Lions receiver coach Antwaan Randle El, among others.
After two stints as an offensive coordinator and three years as East Carolina’s head coach, Montgomery has been coaching running backs in the NFL since 2021, first with the Indianapolis Colts before joining the Lions staff as Duce Staley’s replacement in 2023.
Campbell, who also interviewed Tashard Choice for that job ahead of the ‘23 season, has become increasingly conscientious of staff dynamics as his assistants have become more in demand. That means he approached Montgomery about the possibility of moving well before the decision was officially made.