Lions assistant head coach Duce Staley leaving to join Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions running backs coach and assistant head coach Duce Staley is leaving the team to take a job with the Carolina Panthers, the Detroit News reported Wednesday. Staley’s role with the Panthers is yet to be announced.

By joining the Carolina staff, Staley reunites with Panthers head coach Frank Reich, whom he worked with in Philadelphia during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The pair helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history in 2018, with Reich serving as offensive coordinator and Staley the running backs coach.

The Lions reportedly granted Staley permission to leave so he can be closer to his mother, who lives in South Carolina and has been battling health issues.

Staley spent the past two seasons in Detroit, helping the Lions backfield to its first 2,000-yard performance since 1997 when they had Barry Sanders. It was also the first 1,000-yard season for Jamaal Williams, who also led the league with 17 touchdowns.

Prior to his stint in Detroit, Staley spent 10 seasons with the Eagles in a variety of roles. He began as a special teams quality control coach in 2011 before being promoted to running backs coach in 2013. In 2018, he added the title of assistant head coach.

As a player, Duce Staley was a standout running back at South Carolina, totaling 1,852 yards and 17 touchdowns across two seasons. He was a third-round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft to the Eagles, spending seven of his 10 NFL seasons with the team. Staley later joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning a Super Bowl with them in 2006.

Staley joins a Panthers team coming off of a 7-10 season that resulted in the firing of head coach Matt Rhule. Carolina ranked 10th in the NFL this past season with 2,210 yards rushing, led by D’Onta Foreman with 914 yards and five touchdowns.