Lions sign Cardinals TE coach Heiden to same role

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury (right) and tight ends coach Steve Heiden. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lions sign Cardinals TE coach Steve Heiden to same role

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/30/23

Steve Heiden made it through three different head coaches during his time with the Arizona Cardinals but he’s not sticking around for a fourth.

According to a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Heiden is leaving Arizona to become the new tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions.

Heiden, who was drafted 10 picks ahead of Lions head coach Dan Campbell in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft, will take over for Tanner Engstrand.

Per sources, Cardinals TEs coach Steve Heiden is expected to join Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions coaching staff in the same role. Heiden is a former Chargers and Browns TE who’s spent the last 10 years on Arizona’s coaching staff.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 30, 2023

Promoted to tight ends coach/passing game coordinator in 2022, Engstrand’s future with Detroit is still unknown.

An 11-year NFL veteran with the then-San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns, Heiden got his coaching start with the Cardinals in 2013 as an assistant special teams/assistant tight ends coach.

He was promoted in 2018 to assistant offensive line coach, and again in 2019 to tight ends coach.

This season, Cardinals tight ends combined for 82 receptions on 118 targets for 698 yards and five touchdowns this season, and Zach Ertz led the team in touchdown catches (four).

Detroit set a franchise record for touchdowns by tight ends in 2022 (12). Following a mid-season trade of T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions have just three tight ends heading into 2023—James Mitchell, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra. The trio combined for 40 receptions, 389 yards and nine scores.

Heiden is the seventh former NFL player to join Campbell’s staff joining defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley, quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell, offensive line coach Hank Fraley, wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, and offensive assistant J.T. Barrett.

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