Among the many benefits of being selected as one of the Senior Bowl coaching staffs, the Detroit Lions will get another one this year. A new wrinkle from the Senior Bowl will help develop the coaching staff during the week of practices and the game itself.
From the Senior Bowl’s press release,
For the first time in the game’s rich history, head coaches will serve in more an advisory capacity while promoting select assistants into leadership roles on the staff (e.g. running backs coach to head coach, secondary coach to defensive coordinator, etc.). This new change will offer position coaches and coordinators developmental opportunities in a setting that showcases their skills in front of peers from all 32 clubs.
For the Lions, that will allow well-regarded assistant coaches like RBs coach Duce Staley and DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant to take on more duties and responsibilities. It’s an opportunity to audition for bigger and better jobs in front of the people who actually do the hiring.
The Lions and New York Jets will handle the coaching duties at this year’s Senior Bowl. The practices begin during the first week of February and the game, which is an exhibition with a limited playbook, takes place on February 5th.