It appears the Detroit Lions will soon be in the market for a new tight ends coach.
Tyler Roehl, who was hired by the Lions in February to coach the position, is trending toward becoming the offensive coordinator at Iowa State, a source confirmed to The Detroit News on Tuesday. Roehl intends to stay with the Lions through the season, assuming the process gets over the finish line, the source added. That includes through a potential run in the playoffs.
The Cyclones recently hired Jimmy Rogers as their new head coach after losing Matt Campbell to Penn State.
Roehl, 39, spent one season at Iowa State prior to his time with the Lions, serving as Campbell’s assistant head coach/running backs coach. He’s a former standout running back at North Dakota State who joined his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 2011 before climbing up to offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and fullbacks coach from 2019-23.
“I am going to call plays. Like, my goal is to be an offensive coordinator in the near future,” Roehl told The News in November, when asked about his goals for the future. “I will call plays. I am convicted in that. Preparing myself every single day to do that. I enjoyed it so much as a play caller at North Dakota State. To be able to run an offense, that’s what I want to do. I want to do it sooner than later.”
Roehl continued: “I want to call plays and organize an offense. … At the NFL or at the college level? I always say this: Wherever it’s with the right people. If it’s here (in Detroit), awesome. I’m with unbelievable people here. … Do I want to run a team and an organization? … Yes. If you’re not dreaming big, you’re not dreaming at all. … I want to be a head coach.”
Sam LaPorta was in the midst of a career year under Roehl before injuring his back against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 9 and soon after having to undergo a procedure to fix the issue. The Lions also lost Brock Wright (trachea) to a long-term injury, and their third option at the position (Shane Zylstra) hurt his ankle and has been on injured reserve since September.
Current tight ends on Detroit’s active roster include Anthony Firkser and Hayden Rucci. Zach Horton and Giovanni Ricci are on the practice squad, as is Jackson Meeks, an undrafted receiver who has been getting in some work at tight end during practice. Ross Dwelley was waived Tuesday.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
