Usually, the saying goes: those who can’t do, teach, but it’s not quite applicable when it comes to the Detroit Lions. The men carrying the whistles, yelling instructions on the sidelines have been in the same cleats as the young men they’re mentoring.
In just a fantastic in-depth piece for ESPN, Eric Woodyard spoke with both coaches and players about why having former athletes on staff is working so well for the Lions.
“Players rave about the coaching staff’s previous playing experience, saying it helps the coaches relate to them in pivotal moments on and off the field,” he writes.