The Miami Dolphins have hired the defensive backs coach from the Detroit Lions.
ALLEN PARK — After playing with the Detroit Lions for the last three seasons, Brian Duker is moving to South Beach. Duker will be the Miami Dolphins’ pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach, according to NFL Network.
Deshea Townsend, a defensive assistant, was recently hired by the Lions to oversee the passing game and train the cornerbacks. This past season, Dré Bly coached the cornerbacks for the Lions, while Duker oversaw the defensive backs. Terrell Williams is being hired as the new coordinator of the run game and defensive line coach. What Bly’s future and that of defensive line coach John Scott Jr. are still up in the air. In 2022, Duker transitioned from his position as defensive assistant to that of safeties coach. Overseeing the secondary last year, he assumed greater authority. Now, he’s off to Miami for what appears to be an even bigger job.
Before joining Dan Campbell’s first staff in Detroit, he was a coach with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens.
The secondary has gone through many changes and bumps along the way during these previous three seasons. Outside cornerback is again expected to be a top priority for the franchise this offseason.
They signed cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Cam Sutton to try to fix that issue last season. Moseley lasted two snaps after a delayed return, with another ACL injury ending his season. Sutton was there every step of the way, with mixed returns. Jerry Jacobs, who replaced Moseley, was replaced by Kindle Vildor in the starting lineup in the season’s second half.
Brian Branch looks set to be one of the best nickelbacks in the league for years to come if he continues on the pace he established this year. The rookie was a Day 1 starter who shifted the team’s backfield from training camp to season’s end.
Another positive development has been the emergence of Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety. Melifonwu didn’t see the starting lineup until deep in the year, then broke out in a big way as one of the most important pieces down the stretch. Kerby Joseph has been another key piece through his first two seasons. But with Tracy Walker’s future looking murky in Detroit, there could be room for an addition back deep.
It’s early in the offseason for the Lions, so it’ll be interesting to see how the staff settles with all this movement.
