It’s the curse of a successful NFL team. Once you’re good, other teams will pick you apart to try and replicate your success. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Detroit Lions right now.
Lions fans shouldn’t be surprised to see offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn finding new homes as head coaches after helping build the Lions into a winning team. That’s how the league operates.
Recommended Videos
Johnson has already joined the division rival Chicago Bears—which isn’t ideal, but who could blame him for taking the job with a young quarterback and a solid defense? Glenn is likely to end up with the Jets or the Saints, and both will probably take some of their key staff members with them.
If Lions fans want a winning team, they should get used to losing their best coordinators. Winning franchises have always been a source of new head coaches. The Andy Reid coaching tree, which originated from Mike Holmgren system, and the Bill Belichick coaching tree, which came from Bill Parcells system (though not without its missteps, like Matt Patricia), are prime examples. The Marty Schottenheimer coaching tree produced talents like Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, and Mike McCarthy.
Now, enter the Dan Campbell coaching tree, growing its branches with Johnson and Glenn, and hopefully more, because that would mean the Lions are still winning. Let the leaves grow. Take care of the roots.
It’s hard to say who will step into these roles after Johnson and Glenn leave—we don’t know who they’ll take with them—but you can probably bet it will be an internal promotion. That’s also what good teams do: build a culture of growth.
There’s a trade-off to having high expectations and a winning football team. I don’t know about you, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
More: Trying to make sense of a devastating, sudden end to the Detroit Lions' dream season
