Detroit Lions hiring Davis Shaw as new pass game coordinator

The Detroit Lions appear to be preparing for the loss of pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who is the lead candidate to become the New York Jets’ next offensive coordinator.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions have already found Engstrand’s replacement. The Lions have reportedly agreed to a “multiyear deal” with former Stanford head coach David Shaw.

Shaw has a long history of coaching, dating back to 1995, but he most notably got his NFL start right alongside new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton with the Oakland Raiders. While Morton was cutting his teeth as an offensive assistant from 1998-99, Shaw was the Raiders’ quality control coach. Eventually, both would climb the ladder, with Shaw becoming the Raiders quarterbacks coach in 2001 and Morton becoming the team’s tight ends coach a few years later.

Shaw has coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs, but he’s most known for his 12-year stint as the head coach of the Stanford Cardinals. There, he amassed a 96-54 record, including three top-10 finishes. He was also named Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times and earned a pair of Rose Bowl victories during a stretch of eight straight winning seasons for the Cardinals. Over that time, he worked with players like Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey.

After four straight losing seasons at Stanford, Shaw resigned and took a year off from football in 2023. However, he returned last year to become a senior personnel executive for the Denver Broncos.

Shaw is the latest in a bunch of coaching changes for the Lions. You can track them all here.