By Moses Joshua 
Why Detroit’s decision to interview David Blough may reveal who will really be holding the play sheet next season
The Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator search has already produced one name that stopped people in their tracks — and not because of what he’s done, but because of what he hasn’t.
Former Lions quarterback David Blough, now the assistant quarterbacks coach in Washington, has reportedly been interviewed for Detroit’s OC vacancy. He’s bright, respected, and climbing the coaching ladder.
But he has no play-calling experience.
That detail changes everything.
Why Interviewing Blough Isn’t a Random Move
If Dan Campbell was determined to hand the offense back to a traditional, independent coordinator in 2026, the Lions’ target list would be obvious: experienced architects who have run offenses before. Think Kevin Stefanski. Brian Daboll. Todd Monken.
Veterans. Proven play-callers. Coaches who arrive with their own systems fully formed.
Blough is the opposite profile.
He’s a developmental coach. A communicator. A culture-fit. Someone known for detail work and quarterback development, not someone who has ever commanded an NFL offense from the sideline.
Which leads to a simple but powerful conclusion:
Detroit may not be shopping for a play-caller at all.
The Case for Campbell Keeping the Call Sheet
Campbell took over play-calling late last season, and the offense immediately looked closer to the team’s identity — more physical, more aggressive, more aligned with what the head coach believes Detroit football should look like.
And Campbell hasn’t hidden how much he enjoys being directly involved.
He once said he wanted to “get back to some of the things we were doing a couple years ago… the way we train, the way we go about things,” adding that he planned to “really sharpen the sword a little bit.”
If he believes the Lions are at their best when he is driving the attack, then the role of offensive coordinator changes dramatically.
It stops being about tactical control.
It becomes about collaboration.
A Different Kind of OC Role
Under that model, the Lions wouldn’t be hiring a “guru.” They’d be hiring a partner.
Someone who can:
- Help build weekly game plans
- Lead quarterback development
- Run installs and meetings
- Translate Campbell’s vision to the rest of the staff
Blough fits that description perfectly. He knows Detroit. He understands the culture. He’s known as a sharp communicator and relationship-builder.
He doesn’t need to be the face of the offense — because the face would still be Dan Campbell.
What This Likely Means for 2026
Nothing is official. Blough may not even land the job.
But the fact that he’s being seriously considered tells us something important about the Lions’ direction.
They aren’t just looking for the next big offensive mind.
They’re looking for alignment.
And that suggests Campbell may already know the answer to the biggest question of all:
He’s calling plays again in 2026.
If that’s the case, Detroit’s offense will continue to look unmistakably like its head coach — aggressive, physical, fearless, and unapologetically Lions football.
And the “surprise” Blough interview may end up being the loudest clue of the offseason.