Former Stanford head coach David Shaw and the #Lions have agreed to terms on a multiyear deal to hire him as passing game coordinator, per sources.

Shaw, 52, has worked with new OC John Morton before. A big hire for Dan Campbell’s remodeled staff. pic.twitter.com/Ro4z3HhWyd

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2025

Thought Shaw had a big money announcing gig! If I'm Jared, I'm not happy.

He lives a block away from me. Hard to imagine him leaving Atherton for Detroit. His fam is pretty comfy here and at the Cirus Club.

Passing game coordinator is such a weird title.

BearBoarBlarney said:

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Weird fit. Hiring David Shaw as Passing Game Coordinator would be akin to a team hiring Sonny Dykes as Defensive Coordinator.

I can see Jared Goff's first question to Shaw: "What was your bigger thrill from the 2013 Big Game? Seeing Shayne 'Cheapshot' Skov get away with the dirtiest non-flagged targeting hit on me, or calling for a touchdown pass with less than 2 minutes to go so that you could win by 50?"

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100%. Maybe it's his connection with their new OC, because at Furd, Shaw stayed counter to the modern passing offense. Of course, he stuck with what he inherited from Harbaugh and kept the program winning, but geez, almost might as well hire Wilcox for that position.

I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

It sounds like it's going to be harder for the Lions to reach the SB next year.

eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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eh...it all went downhill once the S&C "glove man" coach left.

Oh, no!

eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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Young African American alumus from the East Bay with NFL cred, good offensive mind, he killed it in recruiting and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls. We worship Tedford for almost getting us there as the runner up.

He is a clue to what Cal could have done decades ago to get to the Rose Bowl but that opportunity is passed. That said, I'm curious what he brings to the Lions.

Well, we just named one of our defensive coaches as "passing game coordinator" < shrug >

bluehenbear said:

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Well, we just named one of our defensive coaches as "passing game coordinator" < shrug >

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People say Wilcox is the opposite of "innovative" and "cutting edge" but I bet few teams have ever tried having the same guy as Co-DB Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.

calumnus said:

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eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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Young African American alumus from the East Bay with NFL cred, good offensive mind, he killed it in recruiting and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls. We worship Tedford for almost getting us there as the runner up.

He is a clue to what Cal could have done decades ago to get to the Rose Bowl but that opportunity is passed. That said, I'm curious what he brings to the Lions.

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Next level Roids?

No. He was just on oxygen.

calumnus said:

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eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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Young African American alumus from the East Bay with NFL cred, good offensive mind, he killed it in recruiting and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls. We worship Tedford for almost getting us there as the runner up.

He is a clue to what Cal could have done decades ago to get to the Rose Bowl but that opportunity is passed. That said, I'm curious what he brings to the Lions.

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Yeah, I love any discussion that wants to trash Shaw....anyone at Cal with the same success, the statue would have already been built.

calumnus said:

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eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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Young African American alumus from the East Bay with NFL cred, good offensive mind, he killed it in recruiting and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls. We worship Tedford for almost getting us there as the runner up.

He is a clue to what Cal could have done decades ago to get to the Rose Bowl but that opportunity is passed. That said, I'm curious what he brings to the Lions.

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Furd's recent success was mostly due to Harbaugh, He took Buddy Teevens/Walt Harris 2001 1-11 program to 12-1 in just 4 years, stockpiling the program with a strong OL/TEs which gave the program a competitive advantage in the P12.

Shaw came in after that and recruited very well, a job made easier by Hairball putting his program on the map, maintaining the program at a very high plateau for 6 years, before gradually falling back to mediocrity.

His skill set does not translate in success as an NFL OC, I think he was a bad hire for the Lions.

Cal88 said:

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calumnus said:

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eastbayyoungbear said:

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I mean, Shaw did eventually install the slow mesh. The guy knows how to coach, at least.

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Young African American alumus from the East Bay with NFL cred, good offensive mind, he killed it in recruiting and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls. We worship Tedford for almost getting us there as the runner up.

He is a clue to what Cal could have done decades ago to get to the Rose Bowl but that opportunity is passed. That said, I'm curious what he brings to the Lions.

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Furd's recent success was mostly due to Harbaugh, He took Buddy Teevens/Walt Harris 2001 1-11 program to 12-1 in just 4 years, stockpiling the program with a strong OL/TEs which gave the program a competitive advantage in the P12.

Shaw came in after that and recruited very well, a job made easier by Hairball putting his program on the map, maintaining the program at a very high plateau for 6 years, before gradually falling back to mediocrity.

His skill set does not translate in success as an NFL OC, I think he was a bad hire for the Lions.

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Shaw was Harbaugh's OC and his best recruiter so he definitely played a role in the turnaround. Harbaugh never won the PAC-12. His one really good year he finished second to Oregon and then left for the Niners. Stanford alums and administrators were not really sad to see him go. He has an abrasive personality.

Shaw took over and took Stanford to an even higher level and sustained it with better and better recruiting classes. He won the PAC-12 three times and took Stanford to three Rose Bowls, 4 BCS bowls and 8 bowls altogether. All this when the Pac-12 was peaking with Oregon, Washington, Utah and USC all comparing for BCS berths.

I agree with you about his fit with the Lions. He was best as Stanford's HC until he burned out and the juice ran out. I think Troy Taylor is a good coach but he has not been killing it at Stanford even in the ACC.

calumnus said:

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bluehenbear said:

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Well, we just named one of our defensive coaches as "passing game coordinator" < shrug >

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People say Wilcox is the opposite of "innovative" and "cutting edge" but I bet few teams have ever tried having the same guy as Co-DB Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.

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Hopefully they mean "Defensive Passing Game Coordinator" and are just adding that title to justify an increase in salary.

Hopefully. The way the coaching staff has been structured the past several years, nothing would surprise me.

calumnus said:

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bluehenbear said:

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Well, we just named one of our defensive coaches as "passing game coordinator" < shrug >

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People say Wilcox is the opposite of "innovative" and "cutting edge" but I bet few teams have ever tried having the same guy as Co-DB Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.

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I bet only a small handful of coaches have ever tried NOT having a special teams coach.

golden sloth said:

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calumnus said:

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bluehenbear said:

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Well, we just named one of our defensive coaches as "passing game coordinator" < shrug >

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People say Wilcox is the opposite of "innovative" and "cutting edge" but I bet few teams have ever tried having the same guy as Co-DB Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.

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I bet only a small handful of coaches have ever tried NOT having a special teams coach.

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Plus 4 DB coaches if you include Wilcox and Sirmon, but thought giving the OL coach OC duties also was a good idea and even after it was a disaster in the bowl game stuck with it for the entire following season only changing after yet another losing season.