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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Block Teryl Austin From Packers

January 5th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Request denied. The Lions will not allow Teryl Austin to interview with the Packers for their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Teryl Austin (vertical)

This week, the Lions permitted Austin to interview with the Bengals, so this could be a move to stifle a divisional rival. Alternatively, this could be a sign that the Lions are now giving serious consideration to promoting Austin to head coach. The Lions met with Austin this week to discuss the position, making him one of seven known candidates for the gig.

This is the second time today that the Packers have been shut down when trying to poach talent from another team in the NFC North. On Friday morning, the Vikings denied their request to interview executive George Paton.

Packers Want To Interview Teryl Austin

January 5th, 2018 at 3:07pm CST by Zachary Links

[UPDATE: The Lions have denied the Packers’ request]

The Packers are seeking to interview Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their vacant defensive coordinator position, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The team will also their own secondary coach Darren Perry for the same job. Teryl Austin (vertical)

Austin figures to be a popular name this offseason. In early December, the Fritz Pollard Alliance listed him as one of four excellent minority candidates for head coaching jobs. The Lions met with Austin this week to discuss their own head coaching vacancy and the Bengals are meeting with Austin on Friday to about their DC opening.

Austin interviewed for a dozen head coaching positions over the past three seasons, but has not yet been given his shot. If he is unable to land a head coaching job this offseason, he may look to build his DC resume elsewhere. The Packers would give Austin the opportunity to hook on with a potential contender and make the Lions regret overlooking him.

Bengals To Interview Lions’ Teryl Austin

January 4th, 2018 at 7:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bengals will interview Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their open DC position on Friday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).Teryl Austin (vertical)

Austin is also a contender for Detroit’s vacant head coaching job, and interviewed for the role earlier this week. Speculatively, the fact that’s taking a meeting with Cincinnati could mean that Austin has already been ruled out of the Lions’ search, but there have been no reports to that effect. Austin is one of seven candidates for the Lions’ top gig, a list that also includes Detroit offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.

The Bengals may need a new defensive coordinator given that incumbent Paul Guenther‘s contract has expired. While head coach Marvin Lewis indicated Cincinnati would like to retain Guenther, the veteran DC is expected to interview for a position on Oakland’s Jon Gruden-led staff.

Austin has garnered a whopping 12 head coaching interviews over the past three seasons, but hasn’t yet been able to garner a job. Most recently, Austin met with the Rams and Chargers regarding their vacancies in 2017, but those positions went to Sean McVay and Anthony Lynn, respectively. Detroit’s defensive play-caller since 2014, Austin led the Lions to a No. 18 ranking in defensive DVOA a season ago.

Lions Interview Packers’ Winston Moss

January 4th, 2018 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions interviewed Packers assistant head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss on Thursday, according to a team announcement. As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, Moss is the fourth candidate to sit for an interview, following Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, Detroit offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Winston Moss (vertical)

The jump from positional coach to head coach is not unprecedented, but Moss may have a hard time selling the Lions on himself when going up against candidates with coordinator and even head coaching experience. Moss is the only known candidate for Detroit without at least having served as a coordinator. Fellow candidate Pat Shurmur is a former HC, though he owns a lifetime record of 10-23 and has not held that job in a full-time capacity since the 2012 season.

So far, the Lions are the only squad to have requested a head coaching interview with Moss. If he does not land the Detroit job, he may want to send his resume elsewhere given the upheaval in Green Bay.

2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 2nd, 2018 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”

Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:

Updated 2-11-18 (2:35pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Second search

Original search

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

  • Jon Gruden, ESPN commentator: Hired
  • Bobby Johnson, tight ends coach (Raiders): Interviewed
  • Tee Martin, offensive coordinator (USC): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/18

January 2nd, 2018 at 9:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • WR Jake Kumerow
  • WR Colby Pearson
  • TE Robert Tonyan
  • LS Zach Triner
  • WR DeAngelo Yancey

Read more

Lions To Interview Mike Vrabel, Pat Shurmur This Week

January 2nd, 2018 at 7:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions will interview Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel for their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link), while Detroit’s meeting with Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will take place on Thursday, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).Mike Vrabel

In his first year as Houston’s defensive play-caller, Vrabel — who took over for veteran coach Romeo Crennel — lead the Texans to a No. 23 ranking in DVOA. While that’s not an overly impressive finish, Houston was dealing with the loss of defensive stalwarts such as J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, so Vrabel was forced to work with limited options. He’s also drawn interest from the Colts, who have requested to interview the 42-year-old coach.

Detroit put in a request earlier this week to interview Shurmur, and that proposal has evidently been granted by the division-rival Vikings. Because Minnesota has a first-round playoff bye, Shurmur is allowed to interview this week. Injuries to Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater, and Dalvin Cook meant Shurmur lead an offense built around Case Keenum, Latavius Murray, and Jerick McKinnon, but the Vikings still managed to finish fifth in offensive DVOA.

Vrabel and Shurmur aren’t the only candidates the Lions are interested in, as general manager Bob Quinn & Co. has interviewed incumbent defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, incumbent offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, and Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss today. Detroit has also requested permission to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

Lions Interview OC Jim Bob Cooter For Head Coach

January 2nd, 2018 at 6:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have interviewed incumbent offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter for their head coaching vacancy, the club announced today.Jim Bob Cooter

Now that Detroit has met with Cooter, general manager Bob Quinn has now interviewed both of his coordinators as he seeks to replace fired head coach Jim Caldwell. Defensive play-caller Teryl Austin was also interviewed on Tuesday, but no reports had indicated the Lions were also considering Cooter for the top job.

That’s not to say that Cooter hasn’t done an excellent job coordinating Detroit’s offense, but he does lack in experience. The 33-year-old Cooter has only led a unit for two-plus seasons, and was an offensive assistant as recently as 2013. But in his two full years as the Lions’ OC, Cooter’s scheme and his players’ execution finished 17th and 15th in DVOA.

By default, the remainder of the Lions’ head coaching candidates will be external. At present, Detroit has been linked to Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss, and Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.

Lions To Interview Packers’ Winston Moss

January 2nd, 2018 at 2:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have secured permission to interview Packers assistant head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Moss’ interview will come after Teryl Austin‘s meeting with the team on Tuesday. Winston Moss (vertical)

[RELATED: Lions Sign Players To Futures Deals]

If he lands the job, Moss’ departure will leave another significant hole on the Packers’ coaching staff. This week, the Packers canned defensive coordinator Dom Capers as well as two other defensive assistants.

Moss has been a staple of the Packers’ coaching staff since he was brought aboard in 2006. Prior to that, he spent time with the Saints and Seahawks. He was considered for the Raiders’ head coaching position in 2012, but the team ultimately went with Dennis Allen.

In addition to Austin and Moss, the Lions also intend to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

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