Last year, the Detroit Lions lost their first assistant coach, Brian Duker, who was in charge of defensive backs. However, Lions fans on social media didn’t seem too unhappy about it.
On February 10, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced that Duker will join the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff in 2024.
“The Dolphins are hiring Brian Duker as their secondary coach/pass game coordinator per source,” Pelissero stated in his article. “Duker spent the past three seasons with the Lions, most recently as Des coach.”
The widespread consensus on X (previously Twitter) was that Duker would not be a significant loss for Detroit.
“Hiring off the Lions secondary is crazy,” wrote Lucas Thomas.
Spliff simply shared a laughing gif, implying that he finds the Dolphins’ hire of Duker humorous.
Duker has eight seasons of NFL coaching experience. He joined the Lions for Dan Campbell’s first season in 2021.
Lions DB Coach Brian Duker Leaving for the Miami Dolphins.
Duker is essentially departing for South Florida due to a promotion. Pelissero claimed that the Dolphins are adding pass game coordinator to his position. It will be Duker’s first time holding a job technically higher than a position coach.
He started his coaching career in 2015 as a defensive intern for the Cleveland Browns. Duker was a defensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
After a year away from the NFL, Duker joined the Baltimore Ravens’ staff as a defensive assistant and coaching analyst. He stayed in that job for three seasons before joining the Lions.
Duker progressed significantly up the coaching ranks during his three seasons with the Lions. In 2021, he worked as a defensive assistant coach before becoming the safeties coach in 2022. He was named the team’s defensive backs coach for 2023.
Some Lions fans applauded Duker’s departure, most likely due to the team’s defensive performance against the pass in 2023. Last season, the Lions finished 27th in pass defence and 29th in net yards allowed per pass attempt.
“Worst secondary in the league,” Molson Ice commented on X in response to Duker’s signing with the Dolphins.
Cooter on X tried to bite his tongue but was clearly relieved Duker was going.
“I don’t want to be nasty to him, and I appreciate his time in Detroit. However, other supporters defended Duker because of the players he worked with in the Detroit secondary. Chris Berzins quipped that Duker “can take Cam Sutton with him.”
Cameron Sutton was a key free agency signing in Detroit’s secondary last season. But Sutton underperformed in 2023.
The Detroit Lions are reportedly adding Terrell Williams and Deshea Townsend to their coaching staff. No official changes have been announced. This includes Duker.
However, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Lions have hired veteran Terrell Williams as defensive line coach and run game coordinator. According to Pro Football Talk, the Lions also signed Townsend as their defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Williams and Townsend both coached in the AFC South last season, with the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In 2023, John Scott and Dré Bly coached the Lions defensive line and cornerbacks, respectively. It is uncertain if they will return to Detroit in other coaching jobs.
With Duker’s resignation, the defensive backs coach position is currently available.
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