Lions Hiring David Shaw as Passing Game Coordinator

Lions add former Stanford head coach to Dan Campbell's staff.
Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw.
Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw. / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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The Detroit Lions have added a new face to their coaching staff amidst rumors of another departure.

According to reports Thursday, the Lions are hiring David Shaw to be their new passing game coordinator on a multi-year contract. The news comes amidst reports that the New York Jets have strong interest in Tanner Engstrand to be their offensive coordinator.

Shaw previously worked with the Denver Broncos as a senior personnel executive, where he spent time with new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton. He's most known for his 12 seasons at Stanford as the head coach, where he amassed a 96-54 record.

He has not coached since parting ways with Stanford, but has plenty of experience at both the NFL and collegiate levels.

Shaw has previous experience working with Morton. Both, in fact, were on staff as offensive quality control coaches under Jon Gruden with the Raiders from 1998-2001. Shaw was promoted to quarterbacks coach of the Raiders in 2001.

After a season in that role, Shaw took a position with the Baltimore Ravens from 2002-04, then was the team's quarterbacks and wide receivers coach in 2005. He moved back to the collegiate level in 2006, where he was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach under Jim Harbaugh at San Diego.

Shaw went with Harbaugh to Stanford starting in 2007, where he was the team's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He took over as head coach when Harbaugh departed for the NFL in 2011.

Engstrand was the Lions' passing game coordinator the past two seasons, and if he were to join the Jets, he would be working under a former Lions staffer in Aaron Glenn.


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Christian Booher
CHRISTIAN BOOHER

Sports journalist who has covered the Detroit Lions the past three NFL seasons. Christian brings expert analysis, insights and an ability to fairly assess how the team is performing in a tough NFC North division.