Kacy Rodgers had it made in Tampa Bay. He helped lead one of the NFL’s top defenses for six years, building a rock-solid run defense and coaching up one of the league’s most disruptive defensive fronts. So when news broke that he was leaving the Bucs to join the Detroit Lions as their new defensive line coach, a lot of people were surprised.
But for Rodgers, the move wasn’t about what he was leaving behind — it was about what he could help build in Detroit.
“I had a great experience [in Tampa],” Rodgers said, “but the opportunity presented itself to come here… it was just a really great opportunity.”
Rodgers joins a Lions staff that’s locked in on one goal: bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit. And he’s not just joining any defense — he’ll now be coaching elite young talent like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, plus first-round pick Tyleik Williams. For a D-line coach, that’s as good as it gets.
“That had a lot to do with it,” Rodgers admitted. “You want guys you can develop into elite players.”
It also helps that Rodgers is reuniting with some familiar faces. He worked with head coach Dan Campbell and linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard in the past, and he knows what kind of culture Detroit is building. Rodgers brings over two decades of NFL experience, including a stint as the Jets’ defensive coordinator, but he’s still hungry to grow.
“When you get to the point where you think you know it all, that’s when problems set in,” he said.
That mindset fits perfectly with what Campbell’s all about — hard work, humility, and chasing greatness. Rodgers didn’t come to Detroit for comfort. He came to help push this team to the next level.
With a young, dominant D-line and a coaching staff full of hungry teachers, Rodgers is exactly the kind of voice the Lions need as they set their sights on a deep playoff run.
Rodgers Explains Why He Ditched the Bucs to Join Lions’ Super Bowl Push
