The Detroit Lions filled a key staff spot today. Steve Oliver moves from assistant offensive line coach to tight ends coach. The Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down what it means ahead of the NFL Combine at month’s end.

Steve Oliver to Tight Ends Coach

The Lions stayed in house. Oliver earns the promotion after five seasons in Detroit, heading into a sixth. He played at the University of San Diego. Inside Allen Park, he is known for hands-on work with the tackles. That includes Penei Sewell, Giovanni Manu, and Colby Sorsdal when Sorsdal repped at tackle.

Continuity matters for this offense. Oliver knows the room. He knows Hank Fraley and the standards on that line. The move keeps the language and teaching aligned for a position group that touches the run game and pass protection on every snap.

Assistant OL Opening and Dan Skipper Buzz

One vacancy remains: assistant offensive line coach. Dan Skipper is the name to watch. He coached tight ends and offensive line at the Shrine Bowl the day after retiring from the Lions. He knows the scheme and knows Fraley well. That fit tracks with how Detroit builds staff.

The goal is a full staff in place before the combine at the end of the month. Programming note from today’s update: there will be a daily show on Saturday, no show on Super Bowl Sunday, and then back on Monday.

Stafford’s MVP and the Detroit Lens

Matthew Stafford won MVP in a very close vote. One ballot for Justin Herbert factored into the margin. At 37, Stafford is the oldest first-time MVP. The award strengthens an already robust career case.

Detroit fans remain split on Stafford’s legacy. Some still celebrate him. Others have moved on. Today’s tone was simple: appreciate the validation and the years of production. His moment on the NFL stage, with family in view, underscored the journey. None of it changes where the Lions are now, but it reframes what he did then.

Penei Sewell Misses Protector of the Year

The NFL rolled out its inaugural Protector of the Year. Penei Sewell was a finalist. He did not win. The award went to a Bear, a result that stung given Sewell’s dominance. By most views, he is the best run-blocking right tackle in football, and arguably the best run-blocking offensive lineman overall.

Pass protection tilted the vote. There are tackles a tick better in pure pass pro, and that likely cost him. Sewell is steady about it. Use it as fuel or not, the standard remains high. Elsewhere, former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz resigned as the Browns defensive coordinator today.

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