The Detroit Lions will have another coach on the offensive staff to replace this season. As first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the New York Jets are hiring Lions tight ends coach Steven Heiden to be their next offensive line coach.
It’s an unexpected move, seeing as Heiden played 11 years in the league as a tight end, and has spent most of his coaching career at that same position. However, he did spend a single season as the Arizona Cardinals’ assistant offensive line coach in 2018. Heiden has served as the Lions tight end coach for the past two seasons, joining the team shortly before Detroit drafted tight end Sam LaPorta in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.