Jason Tucker: Receivers Coach
The man affectionately known as ‘Tuck’ will be back for a 13th season in the pro coaching ranks and fourth with the Lions. Tuck once again led a dynamic group of playmakers in 2023 as both Keon Hatcher and Alexander Hollins eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. A West Division and CFL All-Star, Hatcher’s 1,226 yards were second in the CFL behind Hamilton’s Tim White. Under Tucker’s guidance, Jevon Cottoy (807) and Justin McInnis (690) also established new career-high yard totals.
Despite missing Bryan Burnham and Lucky Whitehead for long stretches of 2022, the receiving corps. was in good hands as Dominique Rhymes (1,401 yards) and Keon Hatcher (1,043 yards) both established career-highs while Whitehead eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. Rhymes was voted as a CFL and West Division All-Star.
Tucker previously served as wide receivers coach with the Edmonton Elks in 2019, a year where both Greg Ellingson and Ricky Collins Jr. had over 1,000 receiving yards.
The three-time CFL All-star began his coaching career Edmonton from 2009-10 (wide receivers) before three seasons (2012-14) in the same role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Along with earning a Grey Cup ring in 2013, Tucker helped Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler and Taj Smith each eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in that championship season.
He moved south of the border to serve as assistant wide receivers coach with the Tennessee Titans from 2015-16, before returning north of the border to coach the Montreal Alouettes wide receivers in 2018.
During his CFL playing career (2002-08) with the Eskimos, Tucker caught 450 passes for 8,065 yards and 64 touchdowns while helping the green and gold win two Grey Cups. He was also named MVP of the 2003 Grey Cup victory over Montreal after catching two touchdown passes from Ricky Ray.
A sixth-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals out of Texas Christian in 1998, Tucker went on to play two seasons (1999-2000) with the Dallas Cowboys where he caught 36 passes for 565 yards and two touchdowns in 31 games.