Rams college scouting director Brad Holmes is in Detroit for a second interview, which will occur Tuesday. He is the first such GM candidate to meet with the Lions a second time during this cycle. He may not be the only exec the Lions meet with twice.
The Lions want to bring Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Saints execs Jeff Ireland and Terry Fontenot back for second meetings, according to Albert Breer of SI.com (on Twitter). Detroit also added Indianapolis assistant GM Ed Dodds to its interview list, meeting with him Tuesday. The Lions were evidently impressed, with Breer noting they would like to speak with Dodds again.
Dodds recently bowed out of the wide-ranging Panthers GM search, leaving only the Lions pursuing him. The former Seahawks exec may be connected to another ex-Seattle staffer. The Lions have been connected to 49ers DC Robert Saleh about their HC vacancy for weeks, and the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers notes some believe Dodds would want to bring Saleh with him to Detroit (Twitter link). Saleh and Dodds were both with the Seahawks from 2011-13, though Saleh was only a defensive quality control coach at that point.
A Michigan native, Saleh interviewed for the Lions job last week but remains in the mix for other gigs — a list that now includes Philadelphia. Saleh has also been connected to an Adam Peters HC-GM pairing, but Peters is not a Lions GM candidate.
Paton and Fontenot remain in the mix for the Broncos GM post, having booked second interviews with Denver. While the longtime Vikings exec has been quite particular in past GM searches, he has remained a sought-after candidate. Fontenot, who interviewed for the Jets’ GM job in 2019, and Ireland — the former Dolphins GM — each went through virtual interviews for the Detroit job last week. Holmes is a Falcons finalist as well.
A Saleh/Dodds pairing seems like a sensible one for Detroit. Two men from organizations that emphasized team-building and culture. The Lions could use Saleh’s defensive expertise and Dodds got to learn under the wing of one of the league’s rising managers in Chris Ballard. I would like to see what he has to bring to the table
Can’t argue with success—Ireland for GM. K liked Saleh for HC, but as soon as that talk began, the Niners started getting beat up. Go for offensive-minded coach this time. And no horrific retreads like Bowles, Lewis. Would like to have seen Pat Fitzgerald, but he ain’t budging.
I am pulling for the Dodds/Saleh combo. That has been the ultimate end game I have wanted for Detroit. I have a bad feeling I won’t get either.
The Defense is in shambles and a defensive minded coach would be the right way to go. The team needs a change to the 4-3 scheme badly.