Kubiak has high praise for Lions' new hire Callahan

Indianapolis — Brian Callahan coached for the Broncos for six seasons before the Lions hired him a couple weeks ago, and Denver coach Gary Kubiak thinks the young assistant has a bright future.

Callahan, the son of former Raiders and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, is the Lions’ new quarterbacks coach and will work closely with Matthew Stafford and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.

Kubiak became the Broncos head coach in 2015 and said Callahan was impressive in the year they spent together.

“Very happy for him,” Kubiak said at the NFL combine Wednesday. “He did a tremendous job for us.”

Callahan’s familiarity with Cooter helped him land the gig as the two coaches were assistants for the Broncos in 2013 when they went to the Super Bowl. At that time, John Fox was the head coach, and Fox said Cooter and Callahan shared an office — more like a cubicle — in Denver.

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“Obviously that connection, I think, was probably paramount, and Jim Bob probably knew Brian as well as anybody,” Fox said.

In 2015, Callahan was an offensive assistant for Denver with an emphasis on working with quarterbacks. He was an offensive assistant from 2013-14 and an offensive quality control coach from 2011-12.

“He’s got a bright future,” Kubiak said. “His dad did a great job with him. He’s a great kid, works really hard and is very bright.”

Fox echoed that sentiment, saying Callahan is “an outstanding young coach” who benefitted from learning from having a longtime coach as a father.

“I think he’ll do a terrific job,” Fox said.

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