Detroit Lions hiring David Shaw as passing game coordinator

The Detroit Lions are hiring David Shaw as its passing game coordinator, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reports. The two parties have agreed to a multi-year deal.

Shaw served as the head coach for Stanford from 2011-2022, but most recently served as the senior personnel executive for the Denver Broncos.

Before taking the job for the Lions, Shaw was also a candidate for the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator position. He interviewed with Ben Johnson and company late last week but has ultimately decided to work under new OC John Morton on Dan Campbell’s staff.

The Denver Broncos originally brought the former Stanford coach in for a head coaching interview in 2023 when they were in the process of replacing Nathaniel Hackett. Unfortunately for Shaw, the team opted to go with former Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton instead.

He was eventually hired in the team’s front office and helped lead Denver to its first playoff berth since they won Super Bowl 50.

Shaw also worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders from 1997 through 2005 before joining Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego in 2006. He then followed Harbaugh to Stanford in 2006 as his offensive coordinator and ultimately succeeded Harbaugh when he went to the NFL.

Shaw remained the Cardinal’s head coach through the 2022 season, after which he announced his resignation.

He would close his decade-plus tenure with Stanford with an overall record of 96-54. That included a 65-40 record in Pac-12 play, however, success had been harder to come by later in his tenure. The Cardinal failed to in more than four games in a single season over his last four years holding the post, including a 3-9 season during his last year in 2022.

Despite going out on a low note, Shaw earned the Pac-12’s Coach of the Year award four times. He also led Stanford to three Pac-12 titles and two Rose Bowl victories in 12 seasons. With his 96 wins, Shaw has the most wins of any Cardinal coach in program history. He shattered the previous record for wins by a head coach with 72, breaking the previous record held by legendary coach Pop Warner.

Now, he’s set to help the Lions’ offense in the passing game after the franchise logged one of its most impressive offensive seasons in history. Detroit scored 564 total points — the fourth-most in a single season in NFL history.