Report: Lions hiring Eagles DBs coach Cory Undlin as defensive coordinator

The Detroit Lions have a new defensive coordinator, and much like when they hired Darrell Bevell as offensive coordinator, the name came out of nowhere. Eagles defensive back coach Cory Undlin will be the next Lions defensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Undlin has been coaching in the NFL since 2004, when he started as a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots. In that same year, Lions head coach Matt Patricia also got his break in the NFL as the Patriots’ offensive assistant.

Since then, Undlin has jumped around, serving several roles with the Browns over five years, three years with the Jaguars, three years with the Broncos, and finally four years as the Eagles’ defensive backs coach.

Throughout his career, Undlin has produced some mixed results with the secondaries he’s worked with. This year, the Eagles pass defense struggled, but Undlin didn’t exactly have the greatest personnel to work with. In 2018, however, the Eagles suffered an enormous amount of injuries, and Undlin’s coaching helped Philly weather the storm by coaching up the likes of Cre’Von LeBlanc and Tre Sullivan.

Undlin does have two years of defensive coordinator experience. He served that role at California Lutheran early in his coaching career from 2001-2002.

The Lions have not made this hiring official yet, but it appears the Lions have their new guy.