]

Detroit Lions lose 6th assistant coach, Steve Heiden: ‘It’s the nature of this business’-kid

 

Ben Johnson raided the Detroit Lions coaching staff for two assistants when he left for the Chicago Bears, and now Aaron Glenn is taking at least one of his former colleagues with him to the New York Jets.

The Jets hired Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden as their new offensive line coach Wednesday, NFL Network reported. Glenn left his post as Lions defensive coordinator to become Jets head coach last week.

Heiden spent the past two years coaching tight ends with the Lions after working in a variety of roles for a decade with the Arizona Cardinals.

Sep 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight ends coach Steve Heiden against the Washington Football Team at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

He is the sixth Lions assistant to leave for a job with another team this offseason.

Glenn and Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator in 2022-24, were hired as head coaches.. Defensive line coach Terrell Williams joined Mike Vrabel’s staff with the New England Patriots as defensive coordinator. And Johnson hired receivers coach Antwaan Randle El as assistant head coach/receivers coach and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett as quarterbacks coach.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand also is a candidate to be Jets offensive coordinator.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes spoke of how difficult it would be for the Lions to keep assistants who had a chance for advancement this offseason at his end-of-season news conference last week.

“It’s obviously a challenge cause you always — you want to keep the good ones, obviously, and guys that you’ve gotten comfortable with and proved that they with here,” Holmes said. “But it’s the nature of this business and it’s something that you just have to expect, you’ve got to prepare for it, that’s going to come, that’s part of the job. It’s not only in coaching, it’s in personnel as well. So I’ve always said it’s hard to keep the good ones, but I understand that when guys want to poach guys from our program, you’ve just got to be prepared for it.”

Related Posts

Buccaneers’ David Walker does something that has the NFL buzzing about the plane crash in India.

Buccaneers’ David Walker Shocks NFL With Humanitarian Action Related to Tragic Plane Crash in India While the American football world is focused on the NFL preseason, a…

Buffalo Bills’ Landon Jackson does something that has the NFL buzzing about the plane crash in India.

Landon Jackson – the rising young defensive end of the Buffalo Bills – has just made a touching gesture that has deeply touched the entire NFL community….

BREAKING: Travis Kelce loses 25 pounds after stressful NFL season amid criticism of weight gain.

Travis Kelce shed 25 pounds in preparation for the forthcoming 2025-26 NFL season after he was dragged for his “dad bod.” ESPN personality Jeremy Fowler revealed that…

UPDATE: Should the Buccaneers erect a statue to honor Tom Brady after his legendary legacy?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never had a player quite like Tom Brady. The franchise, once defined by mediocrity and missed playoff chances, was transformed the moment Brady signed…

BREAKING: 2 Buffalo Bills at risk of cuts after 2025 training camp.

The Buffalo Bills are once again aiming high in 2025. They have a roster built to contend and a franchise quarterback locked in for the long haul. However, with…

BREAKING: Rashee Rice dodges Chiefs’ biggest question as he heaps praise on the offense.

After failing to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions last season, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to get…