By Sunday 
It’s not every day you see a coach make a mid-offseason shift — but for Scottie Montgomery, it wasn’t about shaking things up. It was about going home.
The Detroit Lions’ assistant head coach, once tasked with leading the running backs room, has officially pivoted to wide receivers coach ahead of the 2025 season. Why the switch? Simple: Montgomery wanted back in the passing game, where his roots run deep and his instincts thrive.
A Return to Familiar Turf
Before guiding David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs through a standout ground campaign in 2024, Scottie Montgomery built his resume through the air. From his days as Duke’s offensive coordinator to stints as a wide receivers coach in both the college ranks and NFL, the man knows route trees like the back of his hand.
In fact, when asked why the change, those close to the situation suggest it was less of a surprise and more of a reunion.
“He missed it,” said one team insider. “He’s always had a deep understanding of the passing game, and this just gets him closer to what he loves.”
A Strategic Shift That Makes Sense
Let’s be honest — the Lions are loaded at running back. Between Gibbs’ electric speed and Montgomery’s bruising reliability, the unit is thriving. But the receiver room? That’s a group with untapped potential.
With Amon-Ra St. Brown locked in as the WR1 and Jameson Williams showing flashes of his big-play ability, the Lions are aiming to take their aerial attack to the next level. And who better to oversee that than someone who’s not only coached wideouts but has called plays and developed passing schemes at the highest levels?
Dan Campbell’s Confidence in the Call
Dan Campbell isn’t the kind of coach to shuffle staff just for fun. He’s built a culture of trust and accountability in Detroit, and every move has intent.
Having Montgomery take over the wideouts isn’t a demotion or a plug-and-play fix. It’s a move made with the long game in mind — sharpening the Lions’ offense to be even more dynamic and unpredictable in 2025.
Montgomery’s Dual Perspective Could Be a Weapon
One of the most interesting wrinkles here? Montgomery now brings first-hand knowledge of the run game into his wide receiver coaching. That crossover expertise means Detroit’s passing game will now be influenced by someone who understands how to complement it with strong, disciplined rushing — and how wideouts can block, sell fakes, and run deceptive routes that make everything click.
In other words, this isn’t just a new chapter for Scottie Montgomery. It’s a playbook upgrade for the whole team.