Detroit Lions lose special teams assistant to Vanderbilt

While the Detroit Lions have most of their coaching staff for the 2019 season, it appears there will still be some minor changes here and there. The latest change to the staff comes from the special teams department. According to Tennessean.com, special teams assistant Devin Fitzsimmons has taken a job as the special teams and tight ends coach for Vanderbilt.

Fitzsimmons had been with the Detroit Lions since 2014, serving mostly as an assistant to the special teams coaching staff. He also helped out with the tight end corps in 2015.

Last season, after the Lions decided to fire Joe Marciano in the middle of the year, Fitzsimmons assumed most of the special teams coordinator roles, although he did not get an official promotion to the interim position.

Fitzsimmons was considered one of the more likely candidates to take over for Marciano in 2019, especially considering the noticeable turnaround in the Lions’ special teams units, specifically in their coverage units. However, the Lions decided to hire veteran special teams coach John Bonamego instead.

Fitzsimmons is no longer listed in the coaches session on the Detroit Lions official website.