By Sunday 
Sometimes the smartest moves are the ones that don’t dominate the headlines.
While most of the buzz around the Detroit Lions this offseason has focused on offense—naming Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator and adding Mike Kafka to the staff—the Lions quietly made a savvy decision that could pay off just as much on Sundays: keeping Jim O’Neil in the building.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Detroit agreed to terms with O’Neil after he interviewed with the New York Jets for their defensive coordinator opening. Instead of letting a key piece walk, the Lions doubled down on continuity—and that matters more than it might seem.
Why Keeping Jim O’Neil Matters
Since arriving in Detroit in 2024, O’Neil has been one of the driving forces behind the Lions’ stability in the secondary. Under his watch, safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch blossomed, earning First-Team AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, respectively.
That same season, Detroit’s defense allowed the second-lowest completion percentage (82.0) and tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18). Those aren’t flashy stats—but they’re winning football stats.
Injuries Changed the Picture, Not the Trust
The 2025 season wasn’t as clean. Injuries hit hard.
Joseph was limited to six games with a knee injury, while Branch suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys. Detroit will be without Branch for most of next season, and there’s uncertainty around Joseph’s return to form.
Still, this is where O’Neil’s value shows up.
Despite the rotating cast, Detroit’s safeties didn’t fall apart—and that’s no accident.
Next Man Up? O’Neil Made It Work
Take Thomas Harper. Thrust into action in 2025, Harper appeared in 12 games and made nine starts, finishing with 37 total tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception.
Pro Football Focus backed up the eye test. Harper earned:
- 77.8 overall grade (11th among 98 safeties)
- 75.9 coverage grade (10th among 98 safeties)
Then there was Avonte Maddox, who slid into strong safety from Week 11 on and simply held down the fort. Maddox allowed just 37 yards in coverage, posted a 79.1 coverage grade, and proved that Detroit’s system—and coaching—travels well.
A Savvy Move That’s Flying Under the Radar
No matter who lines up at safety, the Lions have consistently found production over the past two seasons. That kind of plug-and-play success doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens because of coaches like Jim O’Neil.
While the offense grabs the spotlight, Detroit quietly ensured stability on the back end of the defense—and that’s why keeping O’Neil was a savvy, under-the-radar win that could loom large when the games start to matter most.