The Lions announced on Thursday that DC Paul Pasqualoni and OL coach Jeff Davidson are both leaving the team and stepping away from football.
“Coach Pasqualoni notified me this week that he will be stepping away from the Lions to be closer to his family,” Lions HC Matt Patricia said in a statement. “Coach P is one of the best men I’ve ever been around, on both personal and professional levels. I owe him so much and I’m grateful of the impact he had on our players, coaches and support staff. He will continue to be a great sounding board for me as a coach, father and leader. I wish him and his family well as they begin the new year together.”
Regarding Davidson, Patricia said:
“Coach Davidson recently informed me that he will take an indefinite leave from coaching. Jeff was an invaluable resource to me during the past two seasons and his leadership will be greatly missed. He has left the door open to a coaching return in future years and I fully support his personal decision to spend time away from the game. I thank him for his dedication to our team and wish him and his family all the best.”
It’s the latest round of coaching changes for Detroit, which announced a wave of firings earlier in the week after a disappointing 2019 season.
The Lions will now have eight assistant coaching positions to fill heading into a make-or-break 2020 season for Patricia.
In 2019, the Lions’ defense ranked No. 26 best in points allowed, No. 31 in yards allowed, No. 21 in rushing yards allowed and No. 32 in passing yards allowed.
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