Detroit Lions Promote Steve Oliver as New Tight Ends Coach

Oliver, a former offensive lineman and college tight ends coach, will replace Tyler Roehl after his departure to Iowa State.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 10:23pm

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The Detroit Lions have promoted Steve Oliver from within, naming him the team's new tight ends coach after Tyler Roehl's departure to Iowa State. Oliver is a familiar face in Allen Park, having joined the Lions in 2021 as an offensive quality control coach and most recently serving as an assistant offensive line coach for the past three seasons.

Why it matters

The Lions' offense relies heavily on the tight end position, requiring players who can excel at both blocking and pass catching. Oliver's background coaching offensive linemen and tight ends at the college level makes him well-suited to continue developing the Lions' tight end group.

The details

Oliver is heading into his sixth NFL season with the Lions, having worked his way up from an offensive quality control role to assistant offensive line coach. Prior to the NFL, he built an extensive college coaching résumé, including stints as an offensive line coach, run game coordinator, and tight ends coach at various programs.

  • Oliver joined the Lions as an offensive quality control coach in 2021.
  • He served as the Lions' assistant offensive line coach for the past three seasons.
  • Tyler Roehl, the previous Lions tight ends coach, departed to become the offensive coordinator at Iowa State following the 2025 season.

The players

Steve Oliver

The new tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions, having been promoted from within the organization. Oliver previously served as an offensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach for the Lions.

Tyler Roehl

The former tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions, who departed the organization to become the offensive coordinator at Iowa State University.

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The takeaway

The Lions' decision to promote Steve Oliver, a coach with extensive experience on the offensive line and with tight ends, signals their commitment to maintaining the continuity and physicality that has become a hallmark of their offense in recent years.