It makes perfect sense that Tyler Roehl, a coach who built his reputation on grit and relentless work ethic, ended up in Detroit—a city shaped by those same values. From his first day with the Lions, the former NDSU player and coach felt completely at ease.
His path since leaving NDSU in January 2024 has been eventful. After a brief stop at Tennessee State lasting only a month, he moved to Iowa State, and within a year, he found himself coaching NFL tight ends.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Roehl said. “When will it? The first game? Maybe preseason? Because once you’re in the building, it’s just football, and everyone’s focused on raising the standard. I don’t know when it will feel real—I’m just grinding every day to help this team get better.”
Gone are the concerns about recruiting, eligibility, or keeping players from transferring. Those duties have been replaced with scouting draft prospects and evaluating free agents.
“It’s purely football now,” Roehl said. “It’s all about the game. That allows deeper focus, analyzing schemes, exploring better ways to teach them, or adapting technique for certain matchups. It’s just the sport—without all the college extras, for better or worse.”
Roehl now joins a growing list of ex-Bison in the NFL coaching ranks. That includes names like Gus Bradley, Todd Wash, Scottie Hazelton, Bob and Bobby Babich, Connor Senger, and Conor Riley.
He’s kept in contact with Bradley, who was on the NDSU staff when Roehl was a running back. Bradley recruited him out of West Fargo. He’s also talked with Senger and Riley, now with the Dallas Cowboys as offensive line coach.
“This staff’s been great with helping me adjust,” Roehl said. “No one treats you like you’re ‘just’ from the FCS. It’s never about who’s right—it’s about what’s right.”
Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley—whose son Trent plays center at NDSU—has also been a strong support. The two even live within a block of each other.
“Hank’s worn a Bison shirt a few times,” Roehl said. “We’ve talked about Trent’s development, even small stuff like how warmups differ from what’s done here to what’s done at NDSU.”
Many coaches from NDSU already used systems like the West Coast offense, which has made adapting to the pros easier for Roehl. From terminology to dropbacks, it all felt familiar.
“There’s a lot of overlap,” he said. “Some terms may change, but much of it is the same language.”
This job offer came after Roehl’s second interview with the Lions in three years. He had studied Dan Campbell’s coaching style closely. Matt Campbell at Iowa State was also an influence.
“To now see Coach Dan Campbell operate—it’s a perfect match,” Roehl said. “He had other chances, but this team just felt like the right fit.”
Jeff would prefer people not joke that he was around for Gutenberg’s printing press debut, but he’s in his third decade with Forum Communications. A lifelong journalist, he’s worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune, and since 1990, The Forum, covering NDSU sports since 1995.
