Former football head coach David Shaw ‘95 has accepted an offer to join the Detroit Lions as their pass game coordinator.

The role is Shaw’s first coaching position since stepping down from the helm of Stanford football in 2022. He previously served as Senior Personnel Executive for the Denver Broncos in 2024 where he worked alongside John Morton, the Lions’ new offensive coordinator. Shaw’s hire comes amidst a mass exodus of Lions coaches after the team finished 15-2 this season, the team’s best performance in their history.

Shaw follows in his father’s footsteps, as Willie Shaw previously served as the Lions’ defensive backs coach in the 1980s. This move marks Shaw’s return to the NFL after more than a decade coaching at the collegiate level.

The hiring comes less than a month after Shaw was interviewed by the Chicago Bears for their head coaching position, which has since been filled by former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Shaw played wide receiver at Stanford from 1991 to 1994 and returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2011, leading the program for 12 seasons. During his tenure, he compiled a 96-54 record, won three Pac-12 championships and secured two Rose Bowl victories. He stepped down in 2022 following a string of difficult seasons but remained a respected figure in the football community.

Prior to coaching collegiate football, Shaw spent nine years in the NFL, working for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens in various offensive assistant roles. Most recently, he served as a senior personal executive for the Denver Broncos last season, further expanding his front-office experience.