He arrived in 1985, four years before Barry Sanders was drafted. He departs as the team seems to be ready to finally make a run at its first Super Bowl berth.
Defensive assistant Don Clemons, 58, is retiring.
“Don Clemons has been one of the great contributors to the Lions organization,” Lions president Tom Lewand told the team’s official website. “He has served nine head coaches, and particularly in our business, that tells you what kind of person and what kind of worker Don Clemons is.
“Nine head coaches have seen his value as a person and as a football coach, and I do it in that order, because as good of a coach as he’s been for us, he’s been a better person.”
Clemons has coached every position on defense during his time with the team.
So why now? “Well,” Clemons said, “Dick Modzelewski, who I worked with when I first started here, he had played and coached for a long time and he retired the third or fourth year I was here and I asked him, ‘Dick, what are you retiring for?’ and he said, ‘You just know, and when it comes you just look around at the people and know its time to let someone else do it.’”
Hopefully, if the Lions win the Super Bowl this season, they’ll let Clemons have a ring.
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That’s dedication, 27 years the through the good times and the bad. You don’t see that too often nowadays…
Lions should never be in the same sentence as Super Bowl!
Man, that guy has a high pain tolerance.
That guy has been dedicated to the Lions org.
Thats as good as it gets!
If he retired like Bruce Arians he will be with another team by Tuesday
I wonder who he will hired by in two weeks…..
Hey yevrag-are you attempting to type in the english language? If so it’s not going too well.
megatronownsyou …
Please don’t pick on yevrag3535. Judging by not only his command of the English language but also by his messages themselves, he obviously is mentally challenged.
27 years as an assistant coach? Guess his reach never exceeded his grasp. The Lions or any team never sawthis guy as a DC or HC material in 27 years?
You just know, and when it comes you just look around at the people and know its time to let someone else do it.’”
He looked at Suh and knew he needed to leave…
Super Bowl? Really? pfft…
And hopefully you will get a new wig if they win it all.
If you think THAT secondary is headed to a Super Bowl, I have a South african uncle that wants to sell you cheap gold via email.
Fat chance. The Lions will never make a super bowl.
childressrulz says: Feb 20, 2012 3:53 AM
Fat chance. The Lions will never make a super bowl.
This is coming from a guy with the name “childressrulz”…haha what a bust!
He probably did not get any other offers over that time period due to being a Lion. Poor guy. Hopefully retirement will be more fulfilling. PS, the Lions aren’t winning the SB next year. Too many good teams out there.
When the Lions win the SB, I hope they send him a ring.