The Detroit Lions aren’t shopping for a new head coach this offseason - Dan Campbell is still firmly at the helm - but that doesn’t mean they’re ignoring the NFL’s annual coaching carousel. In fact, they’d be wise to keep a close eye on it.
Why? Because come 2026, the Lions are set to face six teams with brand-new head coaches.
That’s a significant chunk of the schedule, and in a league where coaching changes often signal major shifts in identity, it’s something Detroit can’t afford to overlook.
Let’s break it down.
Six New Head Coaches on the 2026 Schedule
Detroit’s upcoming opponents include a mix of familiar faces in new places and some fresh blood. At Ford Field, the Lions will host two teams that just made coaching changes: the New York Giants, now led by longtime Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, and the Tennessee Titans, who’ve tapped former Jets head coach Robert Saleh to take over.
Harbaugh brings plenty of experience to the table and a strong track record against the Lions - he’s 5-1 all-time versus Detroit. But that one loss?
It came in his final season with Baltimore, a cathartic 38-30 victory for Campbell and company. Saleh, on the other hand, only faced Detroit once during his time with the Jets.
That game, back in 2022, was a nail-biter - a 51-yard touchdown strike to tight end Brock Wright in the final two minutes sealed a 20-17 win for the Lions.
On the road, Detroit will see more new leadership. They’ll visit Atlanta, where former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is now calling the shots. Stefanski split his two matchups against Detroit while in Cleveland - a 13-10 win during Campbell’s first season, and a loss the following year, just a week after the Lions blew out Harbaugh’s Ravens.
Then there’s Miami, where Jeff Hafley, formerly the Packers’ defensive coordinator, takes over. Hafley’s defenses have seen plenty of the Lions in recent years. In his two seasons with Green Bay, the teams split the series 2-2 - Detroit swept the Packers in 2024, only to get swept in 2025.
The Lions will also travel to face the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, both of whom are still finalizing their coaching hires. So the total number of new head coaches they’ll face could still climb.
Campbell’s Track Record vs. First-Year Coaches
Here’s where things get interesting. Dan Campbell has quietly built a strong résumé when it comes to facing teams with a new head coach. He holds a 12-4 record in those matchups - and three of those losses came during his first two seasons in Detroit, when the team was still finding its footing.
Among the wins? Some big names.
He’s beaten Sean Payton with the Broncos and Mike Macdonald with the Seahawks - both of whom are deep in this year’s playoff picture. He also notched a win over Brian Daboll during his time with the Giants, a coach who’s reportedly in the mix for the Bills job.
Campbell’s also handled his business in the NFC North. He’s 3-1 against divisional opponents with a new head coach - 2-0 against the Bears’ Ben Johnson and 1-1 versus the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell.
There are, however, a couple of blemishes. Two of Campbell’s losses came against coaches he recently interviewed for Detroit’s offensive coordinator vacancy: Arthur Smith, then with the Falcons, and Mike McDaniel, then leading the Dolphins.
But the loss that stings the most? That came in the postseason, against Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders.
It marked the first time Campbell faced a first-year head coach in the playoffs - and it didn’t go Detroit’s way. Strip out that 0-1 playoff mark, though, and Campbell has rattled off 12 straight regular-season wins against new head coaches since 2022.
Why It Matters
Even if the Lions aren’t part of the coaching shuffle this offseason, the ripple effects will hit them directly. Six - and possibly more - of their 2026 opponents will be breaking in a new head coach.
That’s not just trivia. It’s a strategic factor that could shape the season.
Campbell’s history suggests Detroit can capitalize. But the NFL’s a league of constant evolution.
New coaches bring new schemes, new energy, and sometimes, unpredictable results. The Lions don’t need to overhaul anything, but they do need to stay sharp.
Because in a season where margins are razor-thin, understanding who’s on the other sideline - and how to attack them - might be the difference between a return to the playoffs and a frustrating step backward.