ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The day has finally come. The Detroit Lions are in need of new coordinators.

It’s been a long time coming, but Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) and Aaron Glenn (New York Jets) are off to run their own franchises. Who they take with them is the next question, but what we do know right now is that Dan Campbell is tasked with replacing two of his closest confidants in the middle of a Super Bowl window.

It can be done, of course. The Philadelphia Eagles lost Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon after losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago. The 2023 season was a bit of a step back, though the Eagles still won 11 games and made the playoffs. After more staff moves last offseason, the Eagles are back in the NFC Championship Game.

Campbell has shown a good eye for talent and a good feel for what he needs. You never quite know with him, but he should have his share of options — both internal and external.

Here are a few to keep an eye on.

Offensive coordinator

Tanner Engstrand, Lions passing game coordinator: Engstrand’s rise with the Lions could look eerily similar to Johnson’s when it’s all said and done. Johnson was a Matt Patricia holdover. He was an offensive quality control coach, became Campbell’s tight ends coach, then Detroit’s passing-game coordinator in the second half of the 2021 season, then offensive coordinator. Engstrand, too, was a Patricia holdover. He was an offensive quality control coach with the team, coached tight ends, then became the Lions’ passing game coordinator. Is an OC promotion next? Certainly feels like a strong possibility. There’s a belief that the Lions have been preparing Engstrand for a role like this.

Scottie Montgomery, Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach: Montgomery has worn a few different hats as a coach — at the collegiate and NFL levels. He’s interviewed for a couple of different OC jobs — including the Lions’ opening in 2022 and the Bucs opening last offseason — and is a respected RBs coach, often tasked with speaking to the entire team as Campbell’s assistant head coach. He’s an excellent culture guy, a clear leader and his players love him.

Hank Fraley, Lions offensive line coach: Fraley is one of Campbell’s most important coaches. Detroit’s offensive line raves about him and his ability to teach and communicate — offering different styles for different players. But his phone’s been ringing this offseason. The Seahawks have talked to Fraley about their OC opening. Could Johnson bring him to Chicago as his OC? Maybe not. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday that Fraley isn’t expected to land in Chicago. In an ideal world, he’s back as Detroit’s offensive line coach. But if there’s an opportunity out there, perhaps he’s open to the challenge of being an OC, whether it’s here or elsewhere.

Mark Brunell, Lions quarterbacks coach: Campbell said he’d preferably hire an OC who has a good relationship with Jared Goff. Brunell, Goff’s QBs coach, fits that description. He’s a former NFL quarterback and has been on Detroit’s staff for four years now. He’s been rumored as a potential candidate to run Aaron Glenn’s offense in New York, should he not land the Lions’ OC job.

Antwaan Randle El, Lions wide receivers coach: Randle El is another coach who’s been on Campbell’s staff from the very beginning. He’s helped Amon-Ra St. Brown become a two-time First-Team All-Pro and his patience with Jameson Williams paid off in a major way this year, en route to his first 1,000-yard season. Randle El interviewed for the Bucs OC job in 2024, so he’s been on the radar of other teams. Worth keeping an eye on, even though the Lions have their fair share of internal candidates.

Pete Carmichael, Broncos senior offensive assistant: Carmichael was Sean Payton’s offensive coordinator for years with the Saints, and oversaw an offensive staff that Campbell worked for. Carmichael spent 15 years in New Orleans as OC but the offense wasn’t the same after Drew Brees retired and Sean Payton stepped down. He was fired by former Saints head coach Dennis Allen around this time a year ago, before joining Payton’s staff in Denver. Campbell’s familiarity with Carmichael could factor in here.

Klint Kubiak, former Saints offensive coordinator: Campbell hasn’t overlapped with Kubiak, but he did start his career at Campbell’s alma mater, Texas A&M, and is the son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak. Kubiak spent the past year with the Saints, taking over for Carmichael. His offense started hot — the Saints scored 91 points in their first two games — but tailed off as injuries to key players piled up. He’s been interviewing for the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator job that Fraley is a contender for. So, maybe the Lions should hope that job goes to Kubiak so they can hold onto Fraley.

Ronald Curry, Bills QBs coach/passing game coordinator: Curry is a former NFL quarterback, which includes a short stint with the Lions, and has been an NFL coach for more than a decade now. Campbell knows him well. He was Payton’s wide receivers coach in New Orleans, before coaching QBs and running the Saints’ passing game. This is his first season with the Bills, serving as Josh Allen’s quarterbacks coach and working with Bills OC Joe Brady. This has been the best season of Allen’s career. Could Campbell and Curry reunite in Detroit?

Frank Reich, former Colts and Panthers head coach: Campbell has a good relationship with Reich, and he’s the most experienced candidate on this list. Reich is considered to be a personable coach and had the respect of his players in his past stops. Things didn’t work out in Indianapolis or Carolina, but perhaps he’s better suited in a coordinator role.

David Blough, Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach: Could Blough return as OC? Admittedly, it could be a bit early. But we know he has a great relationship with Goff. He knows Ben Johnson’s system and Detroit’s terminology. He was basically a player-coach in his final year in Detroit. And in his first year of retirement, he finds himself on a Commanders’ team about to play for a Super Bowl appearance. Blough is credited with installing a play that helped the Commanders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles last month and has been credited with installing plays for the Lions during his time in Detroit, so he’s clearly made an impact. It feels like he’s on an OC track, though a move like this might be a bit aggressive. He might be a better fit as QBs coach, should Brunell depart.

From the Dan Campbell/Ben Johnson archives …

Tom Kennedy said then that David Blough suggested the play design, because it had worked for Blough at Purdue. https://t.co/DtaEx6QkJn

— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) October 9, 2023

Jeff Nixon, Syracuse offensive coordinator: Nixon and Campbell spent time together with the Dolphins, where Campbell coached tight ends and Nixon coached running backs. He’s bounced around between the NFL and college since then, and most recently called plays for a Syracuse team that averaged 34.1 points per game this season. He’s worth a look from the college ranks if he’s looking to get back to the NFL.

Defensive coordinator

Dennis Allen, former Saints head coach: Allen is rumored to be joining Johnson in Chicago as his DC. But until that happens, can’t rule out Allen. He and Campbell played together at Texas A&M, then coached together with the Saints. He would run a similar defense as Aaron Glenn, too, which is something Campbell wants. Until things are official, he’s worth including.

Matt Eberflus, former Bears head coach: Eberflus was often criticized for his game management as a head coach. But there’s no denying he’s a good coordinator. In his final year as the Colts’ defensive coordinator in 2021, the team ranked ninth in points per game allowed at 21.5. His Bears defenses improved each year, too. He might not be the leader-of-men type that Glenn was, but he knows how to run a defense. He’s also from nearby Toledo, so it would be a chance to be closer to home.

Kelvin Sheppard, Lions linebackers coach: The in-house favorite, Sheppard has not shied away from discussing his aspirations of becoming a defensive coordinator. Sheppard is a Campbell guy through and through, having played for the Dolphins when Campbell was the interim coach in Miami and joining Campbell’s initial staff in Detroit. He’s had four years at the NFL learning from Glenn. He’s a player’s coach and can command a room. Only question is if he’s ready for an opportunity to game plan and run a defense, and if Engstrand is the OC, would Campbell want two first-time coordinators running his units?

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Deshea Townsend, Lions defensive backs coach: Townsend came to the Lions ahead of the 2024 season from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s a former player and worked closely with Glenn coaching Detroit’s cornerbacks. It certainly felt like the room improved following the departure of Dre Bly, though an influx of talent helped. Townsend interviewed for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator job earlier this month so he’s been on other radars. He would likely run a similar defense as AG.

Jim O’Neil, Lions defensive assistant: There’s a chance O’Neil, who coaches safeties in Detroit, could join Glenn with the Jets. O’Neil was the defensive coordinator in Cleveland from 2014-15 when Glenn was breaking into coaching as the Browns’ assistant DBs coach. He came to Detroit ahead of the 2024 season and cited Glenn as a major component. But could he stick around and oversee the entire defense under Campbell? He’d be the most experienced in-house candidate.

Larry Foote, Buccaneers inside linebackers coach/passing game coordinator: Foote is a Detroit native and former All-American at Michigan. He played 13 seasons in the NFL and won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring in 2015, Foote immediately got into coaching and has been climbing the ladder since. He’s spent the last few seasons with Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will reportedly interview for the Lions’ defensive coordinator vacancy. If he’s the guy, it would be a homecoming for Foote and would pair him with former Bucs assistant Kacy Rodgers, who’s reportedly joining the Lions’ staff to replace Terrell Williams as defensive line coach.

Ryan Nielsen, Jaguars defensive coordinator: Nielsen has ties to Campbell. He was the Saints’ defensive line coach when Campbell was there, and has been a defensive coordinator with the Saints, Falcons and Jaguars since then. The Jaguars played man coverage and the fourth-highest rate in the league this season, so he’d be a scheme fit. Of course, it’s worth mentioning the Jaguars allowed the second-most yards per game and the fifth-most points per game in the league this season.

Christian Parker, Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach: How about a Vic Fangio assistant? Parker coached defensive backs under Fangio with the Broncos in 2021, and was retained by both Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton, before re-joining Fangio in Philadelphia. He coaches Eagles defensive backs and is the team’s defensive passing game coordinator. He coached Pat Surtain in Denver and currently has a pair of rookies thriving in his room — Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. The Eagles allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the regular season at just 174.2. He’s only 32, but he’s a rising coach in this league.

Jim Leonhard, Broncos defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator: Leonhard, a former NFL safety and defensive coordinator/interim head coach at Wisconsin, has interviewed for NFL defensive coordinator gigs in the past. He is now Payton’s defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator with the Broncos, replacing Parker after he left for Philadelphia. He’s considered a smart defensive mind and could have the Payton seal of approval.

(Top photo of Dan Campbell: David Reginek / Imagn Images)