Jett Modkins enters his sixth season as the Lions' assistant special teams coach in 2026 after originally joining the team in 2021.

Jett Modkins enters his sixth season as the Lions' assistant special teams coach in 2026 after originally joining the team in 2021.

Throughout his time with the Lions, Modkins has assisted one of the top special teams units in the League. Under his tutelage alongside Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp, Detroit has ranked top five in punt return yards (1,601), punting average (48.3), punt return average (11.2), punt return touchdowns (three) and punt return touchdowns allowed (zero) since 2021. Additionally, the special teams group has converted nine-of-13 (69%) fake punt attempts in that timespan.

Modkins has also guided three AP All-Pros in WR/PR Kalif Raymond (Second-Team; 2022, 2024), P Jack Fox (First-Team; 2024, Second-Team; 2020) and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Second-Team; 2023). Throughout Raymond's time in Detroit, Modkins assisted him in becoming the franchise's leader in punt return yards (1,485) while ranking second in punt return average (11.3). Raymond's punt return yards mark also led the League from 2021-25.

Modkins has worked with one of the most reliable punters in the League in Fox, as his gross punting average (48.4) and net punting average (43.1) rank top three in NFL history. In 2025, Modkins helped Fox rank second in punts pinned inside the 10-yard line (13) and percentage of punts pinned inside the 10- yard line (23.2).

With Modkins' help, the Lions' return game was one of the most proficient in the NFL in 2024, leading the League in most punt return yards (479). They also registered the second-highest kickoff return average (31.4) and ranked third in average starting position after kickoffs (30.7) and highest punt return average (12.9).

In 2024, Fox set the NFL single-season record for highest net punting average (46.2) and became the first punter in NFL history to average at least 51.0 gross yards and 46.0 net yards per punt in a single season.

During the 2023 season, Detroit's opponents started their average drive at their own 23.7-yard line following kickoffs, the lowest average starting field position allowed in the NFL. The unit was anchored by Reeves-Maybin, who tied for second in the NFL with 13 total special teams tackles and threw for a 31-yard pass on a fake-punt conversion.

In 2022, the Lions led the NFL with the highest percentage of kickoff returns going for 20-or-more yards (85.3%) and were third in kickoff return average (26.1). Modkins also helped Raymond rank second in punt return average in 2022 (13.2; 10 return minimum) en route to Second-Team AP All-Pro honors.

In 2021, the Lions led the NFL in onside kick recoveries, going three-of-nine (33.33%) on their attempts. Their onside kick conversion percentage marked the most successful rate the team has had in a season since at least 1997, when the data began to be tracked.

Prior to joining the Lions, Modkins spent the 2020 season with the Denver Broncos as the team's diversity coaching intern, assisting with the offense.

His first coaching position came as a defensive volunteer coach with Akron University in 2019.

A native of Chandler, Ariz., Modkins played collegiate football at Glendale (Ari.) Community College and also attended Kent State University. He is the son of Vikings running backs coach/run game coordinator Curtis Modkins. He and his wife, Madison, have three daughters, Ella, Navy and Mille Jade, and one son, Duke.