Detroit Lions Podcast: Dan Skipper retires and coaching talk

On January 22, the Detroit Lions Podcast paused to salute Dan Skipper. The veteran offensive lineman hung up his cleats today. A remote episode, a rough travel day, and a clear purpose. Honor a singular NFL story.

Dan Skipper Calls It a Career

Skipper retires after battling health problems. Back issues. Knee issues. Foot issues. He fought through all of it and kept showing up for the Detroit Lions. His transaction log tells the tale. Sixty-six official NFL transactions. Fifty-seven with the Lions since 2019. He had a brief stint in Houston and an earlier dalliance with the Cowboys, but Detroit was home.

He was the tallest player in the NFL at a legit 6-9 and around 330. Not quite athletic enough to lock down tackle. Too upright to be a full-time guard. Yet he stayed valuable. Practice squad, elevations, special teams, spot duty. He bridged some bad Lions teams to the best Lions teams in recent memory. He maximized his career and never lost the room.

Sixth Lineman, Third Tight End, Fan Favorite

Skipper carved out a niche as the sixth lineman and extra tackle. In 2025, he logged 228 offensive snaps. Eighty of those came as a third tight end in heavy packages. The Lions led the NFL in using a sixth lineman in three of the last four seasons, and Skipper was almost always that piece. He was eligible. They even threw him the ball. It worked.

The appeal went beyond snaps. Training camp showed the person. A giant who signed for kids. Jovial and patient. His own kids ran around and tackled dad after practice. Fans noticed. Teammates noticed. That energy made him a Detroit Lions favorite.

The 2017 Wright Game Punt Moment

The origin story includes the 2017 Wright game in Saint Pete. Practice moved outside on a grass field. Skipper dominated drills that day. Coaches set a challenge to juice the session. The other side picked a player to field a punt. If he caught it clean, practice ended and the offense won. They chose Skipper. The punt was not easy. He secured it. Practice over. Offense got the win. It was a perfect snapshot of focus under pressure and why people gravitated to him.

What Comes Next

Skipper retires for medical reasons and moves straight into coaching. He will coach tight ends and the offensive line at the Wright game this week. That fits his path. Detroit Lions fans will miss him at camp, but his influence carries on. Sixty-six moves. One city that kept calling. A career that mattered.

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