By Blessing 
Kacy Rodgers Brings Fresh Eyes—and High Hopes—to Lions’ Defensive Line, with Marcus Davenport in Focus
Kacy Rodgers hasn’t been in Detroit long, but the transition has been smooth for the new Lions defensive line coach. After spending the last decade working side by side with Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay, Rodgers has stepped into a new chapter—joining Dan Campbell’s staff in Detroit with high expectations and a talented group at his disposal.
Rodgers arrives to fill the spot left by Terrell Williams, who moved on to New England to take the defensive coordinator role under Mike Vrabel. It’s a change of scenery for Rodgers, but one he welcomed with open arms, largely due to the opportunity that awaited him on the Lions’ defensive front.
“Well, that had a lot to do with it,” Rodgers said when asked if Detroit’s roster helped sway his decision. “It is just a chance as a coach — as long as I’ve been in this league — you look for good opportunities, and you’re walking in with some talented guys and guys you’d kind of like to work with. And that had something to do with it. And plus, the culture Coach Campbell has created here.”
Rodgers made it clear that even after years in the league, he’s still learning. Being entrenched in Bowles’ system for so long gave him stability, but now he’s gaining fresh perspective under Campbell.
“You always want to learn,” he said. “I got to where I was pretty familiar with Todd’s system — the way he does things and everything. Great learning experience for me. Now, to get the experience of the way Dan leads the team and the meetings and everything… It’s just a learning (experience) for me.”
He added: “I was telling somebody — as long as I’ve been in this league — you still can learn. When you get to the point where you think you know it all, that’s when problems set in.”
Rodgers is stepping into a promising situation. The Lions’ defensive line features a mix of proven veterans and rising stars. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill return from season-ending leg injuries. DJ Reader brings leadership and experience. Young players like Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, and Roy Lopez add depth, while first-round pick Tyleik Williams injects fresh talent. But one name in particular has Rodgers’ attention: Marcus Davenport.
Davenport, 28, has shown flashes of dominance in his career but has struggled to stay healthy. He played just two games last season due to a triceps injury, and he’s suited up for only six games over the past two years combined.
“That’s the number one thing, and I talked to him about it,” Rodgers said of keeping Davenport on the field. “The thing is — and I told him, matter of fact, the first meeting was — I got to do everything to help him do that. This guy’s a tremendous player. He is — just as you look at his career.”
For Rodgers, the offseason has been about building relationships and figuring out how to mesh with his new group. And so far, it’s been a pleasant surprise.
“Well, this is really what this time of the year is for,” he said of the offseason program. “Because a lot of those guys have been here since we walked in day one, and the vets came back into the building, just kind of thought it’d be some place to count. We all understand right now this is voluntary, but I’m sitting there looking — when I walk in a meeting room, every chair is filled.”
Rodgers appreciated the buy-in from his players—especially when it’s not mandatory. “They don’t really have to be here. So my hat goes off to ‘em for that,” he said. “And then just know — they’re trying to learn me, I’m trying to learn them. And I’m coaching the guys that have played in the system longer than I’ve been coaching it. So they’re helping me, too.”
Rodgers has embraced the challenge of fitting into the Lions’ culture while adjusting his coaching style to help his players thrive. “Nobody’s going to hit me on Sundays… at the end of the day, it’s about the players,” he said. “So one, I’m trying to make the transition from me coming in to them as easy as they can — the way they can play as fast as they can.”
As for Davenport, Rodgers sees a player who’s not only talented, but also deeply committed. “There’s another guy that stares me in the face every meeting room that doesn’t have to be, you know what I’m saying?” Rodgers said. “Coming in here working, and we just got to do what we can to get him through 16, 17 games and see what happens. Because we think if he plays 17-plus games, we’re going to like the results.”
The plan to keep Davenport healthy involves a bit of creativity and caution—limiting his workload and keeping him fresh for when it matters most.
“Well, that’s the thing… some of the things he gets hurt on are just freaky, man,” Rodgers admitted. “Look, I’m sitting here watching the first few games before he got hurt, and he was playing dominant — and that’s it. And sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
Rodgers added that part of his job now is knowing when to step in and adjust Davenport’s role. “But where I can help him and take some of ‘em off of it, let me do that. You got this — let somebody else get that and try to do (that) — because this guy will be a big asset to the people.”
At his peak in 2021, Davenport logged nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 11 games with the Saints. Rodgers believes if they can just get a full season out of him, the impact will speak for itself.
And as the Lions continue to build around a core ready to compete at the highest level, Rodgers’ experience—and Davenport’s health—could be critical factors in pushing Detroit even closer to the Super Bowl they’ve been chasing.