Detroit Lions finalize 3 additions to defensive coaching staff
The Detroit Lions finalized two previously reported additions to their defensive staff Wednesday, and added one new veteran defensive assistant.
The Lions officially hired Terrell Williams as defensive line coach/defensive run game coordinator, Deshea Townsend as defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator and Jim O'Neil as a defensive assistant.
Williams spent the past six seasons as Tennessee Titans defensive line coach and served as a head coach in the recently completed Senior Bowl college all-star game.
Pro Bowl lineman Jeffery Simmons spoke glowingly of Williams in an interview with the Free Press at Super Bowl 58.
"They got a good one," Simmons said. "They did, man. T been with me since my rookie year when I got in. The thing I most respect about T, the relationship that he builds with his players. He really cares about his players, and guys he coached like (Ndamukong) Suh, other guys he coached will tell you, it’s bigger than football with Coach T. Always asking me about my kids, so it’s an honor to have someone like Coach T."
Williams previously worked with Lions coach Dan Campbell with the Miami Dolphins in 2015, and was Lions general manager Brad Holmes' position coach at North Carolina A&T in 1999-2001. He also served as Titans assistant head coach last season.
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Townsend played 13 NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was part of two championship teams. He spent the past two seasons as defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and previously coached with the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Titans and Arizona Cardinals.
O'Neil coached 11 NFL seasons with five different teams before joining Northwestern as defensive coordinator in 2021-22. He also coached safeties at Eastern Michigan in 2006-08.
The Lions still have more hires to make on a defensive staff that has experienced extensive turnover since the end of the season. Defensive line coach John Scott, cornerbacks coach Dre Bly, defensive backs coach Brian Duker and senior defensive assistant John Fox were not retained after the season, and defensive quality control coach Wayne Blair had his contract expire.
Senior offensive assistant Jim Hostler also was on an expiring contract.
Duker has since joined the Miami Dolphins as secondary coach/defensive pass game coordinator.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions finalize 3 additions to defensive coaching staff
