Dre Thompson enters his third season with the Lions after joining the team as WCF Minority Coaching Assistant/Defensive Quality Control in 2023.
In 2024, Thompson helped S Kerby Joseph lead the NFL with nine interceptions en route to becoming the first Lions safety to be named First-Team AP All-Pro since Yale Lary in 1962. Joseph also became Detroit's first safety to log nine interceptions and a pick-six in the same season since Jack Christiansen in 1957. Thompson also guided DB Brian Branch to Pro Bowl honors in 2024, joining Lem Barney (1967-68) and Yale Lary (1953) as the only Lions defensive backs to earn a Pro Bowl berth within their first two-career seasons.
In his first season with the Lions, Thompson helped Branch rank second among all NFL rookies in interceptions (three) while becoming just the third player in franchise history to record a pick-six in their NFL debut. Branch also produced seven tackles for loss on the season, tied for the fifth-most among all NFL defensive backs in 2023 and tied for the most by a defensive back in a season in team history.
Prior to joining Detroit, Thompson spent one season with the Denver Broncos as their Billy Thompson Coaching Fellow.
Before entering the NFL coaching ranks, Thompson served as the cornerbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. With the Bulls, Thompson's unit contributed to a defense that allowed just 221.2 passing yards per game, which ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
Thompson spent two seasons at Campbell University from 2019-20, overseeing the cornerbacks in his second season after being promoted from assistant defensive backs coach.
Preceding his time with the Fighting Camels, Thompson coached three seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Texas A&M, from 2016-18. He was a part of a staff that led the team to three consecutive bowl games. He began his coaching career in 2015 at Missouri, where he served as a graduate assistant.
A two-sport letterwinner for the Aggies, Thompson competed in both football and track and field from 2009-11. He appeared in 25 games as a defensive back for the Aggies over three seasons before using his final eligibility at the University of Memphis in 2012.
While at Texas A&M, Thompson was awarded the 12th Man, an honor given to the player who most exemplified hard work, tireless effort and the Aggie Spirit, representing the entire fan base by being the only player to wear jersey number 12. Thompson is a native of Alief, Texas and has one daughter, Averie.
