Pride of Detroit
A deep look into new Detroit Lions DL coach Kacy Rodgers, his profile, his influences, and what his former players are saying about him.
As the Detroit Lions build out their new coaching staff for the 2025 season, we’re going to take in-depth looks at the newcomers. Thus far, there is just a single external hire that’s reportedly been made: defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers.
Let’s dive into Rodgers’ past to see what the Lions are getting in their new defensive line coach.
Rodgers has literally over 30 years of experience coaching defensive linemen, and even had a four-year stint as a defensive coordinator with the Jets. For the past decade, he’s been one of Todd Bowles’ most trusted coaches, spending those four years with him in New York, then traveling with him to Tampa Bay to coach for the past six seasons. Interestingly, despite being a defensive-minded head coach, Bowles allowed Rodgers to call the defensive plays for the Jets starting in middle of the 2017 season. Bowles now calls plays for the Buccaneers—although Rodgers did call plays for a preseason game this past year. The two also overlapped in Miami from 2008-11, with Bowles serving as the assistant head coach/secondary coach during that time.
Perhaps most notably, Dan Campbell spent time with both coaches while a part of the Dolphins’ staff from 2010-15. In fact, Campbell, while a tight end for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-05, crossed paths with Rodgers when he was coaching the defensive line at the time.
One last interesting connection: Rodgers spent some time with former Lions DL coach John Scott Jr., who lasted just a season in Detroit. Scott was with the Jets from 2015-16, and both Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell mentioned how it was Rodgers who helped recommend Scott for the job.
Campbell:
“I actually knew about him from Bowles and Kacy Rodgers who, out there at Tampa, with Todd, he was with them at the Jets. He was a young coach, he was an assistant D-line coach and I’ve got a ton of respect for Todd Bowles and Kacy, both. I coached with them in Miami years ago, and I know they know what they’re talking about.”
Glenn:
“John Scott was at the Jets when I was there as a scout, so we knew each other then. Todd Bowles is a really good friend of mine, really good friend, and he was there with him also as a coach. And...
