The Lions have already lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks to be on track to land the Jets’ head coaching gig. Detroit’s staff could even more shorthanded in the near future. 
Offensive line coach Hank Fraley is scheduled to take part in a second interview for the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator position, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports. This in-person meeting will take place today. Fraley is now the third candidate who has advanced to the finalist stage.
Seattle replaced Pete Carroll with Mike Macdonald as head coach last offseason, and Ryan Grubb was brought in as offensive coordinator. That setup did not go as planned, though, and Grubb was among the coordinators fired at the end of the regular season. Seattle has met with five replacement candidates so far, and with a trio of finalists in place it would come as a surprise if that list were to expand any further.
Fraley’s virtual interview with the Seahawks was his first for an offensive coordinator position. O-line coaches do not generally tend to receive coordinator opportunities, but the 47-year-old is held in high regard. He quickly transitioned to coaching after a decade-long NFL playing career, working with offensive lines at both the college and NFL levels. Fraley has been in the Motor City since 2018, and he was promoted to O-line coach in 2020.
The success of his unit has been a driving force for the Lions’ overall play on offense in recent years. As a result, losing Fraley would deal a blow to Detroit on that side of the ball. Head coach Dan Campbell said yesterday he is prepared to look at internal and external candidates to replace Johnson, and Fraley could receive consideration if he were to remain with the Lions. A departure could take place depending on the outcome of his Seattle interview, however.
Via PFR’s coordinator search tracker, this is how things are shaping up for the Seahawks:
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): To conduct second interview 1/21
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Conducted second interview 1/17
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview 1/17
I trust MM will get the right guy for his staff/style now that he’s not having to rush the hire. I’m not big on Brown or Leftwich but the other three are intriguing in different ways.
I think I have more hope than trust, given that this is the first time we are seeing him hire an OC when he isn’t the last one in the NFL to get hired. I agree though. I like Kubiak the most.