Unfamiliar, not uncommon: Lions fans learning how success leads to major coaching staff overhauls in the NFL

Allen Park — There have been plenty of times when Detroit Lions fans would have dropped everything to help pack the bags of the team's coaching staff if it meant getting them out of town as quickly as possible. But having coaches lured away for other opportunities? This has been a new and uncomfortable sensation.

What it's not is uncommon.

When it comes to the Lions, success is still relatively new around these parts. A trip to the NFC championship followed by a franchise-record 15 wins? This is unprecedented territory for a franchise that hasn't qualified for a Super Bowl since the game’s inception 57 years ago. But we've seen other teams have their coaching staffs plundered — like Detroit's has been this offseason — following a few winning seasons.

Let's start by recapping Detroit's still-developing list of departures since a premature playoff exit in mid-January.

It begins with coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn accepting head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. Although the landing spots were initially unclear, coach Dan Campbell anticipated the promotions after both coordinators drew heavy interest for top jobs the past three offseasons.

Between the announcements of Johnson and Glenn's hirings, defensive line coach Terrell Williams was plucked by former boss Mike Vrabel to be the New England Patriots defensive coordinator.

That's been followed by Johnson and Glenn taking some of Detroit's assistants. As of now, none of those moves have been officially announced, but here are the ones that have been reported.

Wide receivers coach Antwaan Randel El and assistant quarterbacks coach JT Barrett will be leaving for Chicago. Both will be in upgraded positions, with Randel El adding an assistant head coaching title and Barrett bumping up to quarterback coach. Barrett will get to work with 2024 No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, putting him on a coordinator path if Chicago's offense takes off.

Additionally, there have been rumblings assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver could be on the move, but that looks to be more smoke than fire, at least at the moment.

Glenn is also hiring a Lions staffer, and signs point to a second joining him in New York shortly. On Wednesday night, it was reported Lions tight end coach Steve Heiden will take over the Jets offensive line. Glenn is also expected to hire a colleague from Detroit to fill his offensive coordinator vacancy. Speculation initially suggested quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell would fill the role, but the focus has recently shifted to Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

But let’s zoom out further to understand how much things have changed since Campbell pieced together his original staff in 2021. Pending Glenn hiring Brunell/Engstrand, 14 of those 24 staffers will have moved on.

Let’s go position-by-position.