Lions Head Coach Rumors

Here’s a running list of reports and rumors pertaining to the Lions’ head-coaching search. Be sure to check back for the latest updates.

Interviews

• Texans DC Mike Vrabel. (Interviewed)
• Panthers DC Steve Wilks.
• Patriots DC Matt Patricia. (Interviewed)
• Vikings OC Pat Shurmur. (Interviewed)
• Lions DC Teryl Austin. (Interviewed)
• Packers assistant HC Winston Moss. (Interviewed)
• Lions OC Jim Bob Cooter. (Interviewed)

Latest:

• Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the belief around the NFL is that Patriots OC Josh McDaniels agrees to become the next head coach of the Colts. Rapoport adds that McDaniels has indicated to potential assistant coaches to wait for him and he’s considered to be the “clear favorite” for the Colts’ job.
• Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing a league, reports that the Lions are likely to hire Patriots DC Matt Patricia as their next head coach. According to Schefter, Patricia and the Lions still need to agree to and work out the details of a contract once the Patriots’ season is officially over. However, Detroit reportedly wants Patricia to be their next head coach and sources around the league have told Schefter that they expect a deal to eventually get done.
• According to Ian Rapoport, Patriots DC Matt Patricia and Texans DC Mike Vrabel are still in the mix for the Lions’ head-coaching job. The Lions are still hoping to keep offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter in place to continue working with QB Matthew Stafford, which is why their top-two candidates are defensive-minded coaches.
• Multiple league sources have told Jordan Raanan that they believe Patriots DC Matt Patricia ultimately ends up with the Lions. However, Raanan adds that Patricia is still one of the favorites for the Giants’ job.
• Peter King hears that Patriots DC Matt Patricia is the Lions’ choice for their next head coach over Texans DC Matt Vrabel. However, if the Giants are ready to hire Patricia, King says New York would get the nod over Detroit and the Lions could end up going with Vrabel.
• Ian Rapoport reports that even with Teryl Austin departing for the Bengals’ defensive coordinator job and the prevailing assumption that they’ll hire Patriots DC Matt Patricia, the Lions are still saying that their search is “ongoing.”
• Michael Lombardi is hearing that the Lions will get their head coach in the next day or so and it won’t be a surprise. This, of course, implies that Patriots DC Matt Patricia will be hired as the team’s next head coach, considering that reports have said for weeks now that he was the guy to watch for Detroit.
• Jason La Canfora reports that multiple teams in need of a head coach are willing to wait for the Patriots’ season to end before hiring either OC Josh McDaniels or DC Matt Patricia. According to La Canfora, sources around the NFL would be “shocked” if the Lions hire anyone other than Patricia as their next head coach.
• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, reports that the Patriots are bracing for defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to leave and most likely become the next head coach of the Lions. Florio adds that Patricia is believed to be “more than ready” to take over a team of his own and there’s the obvious connection to the Lions with Bob Quinn in place as their GM.
• The Detroit Lions announced Thursday that they’ve finished their interview with Vikings OC Pat Shurmur.
• The Detroit Lions announced that they’ve completed their interview with Packers associate HC/LBs coach Winston Moss on Thursday.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Bears will interview Patriots DC Matt Patricia this weekend.
• The Detroit Lions announced that they’ve completed their interview with Texans DC Mike Vrabel on Wednesday.
• The Detroit Lions announced that they’ve interviewed OC Jim Bob Cooter Tuesday for their head coach vacancy.
• Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Lions are interviewing defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their head coach job on Wednesday and Packers assistant HC Winston Moss soon after.
• According to Albert Breer, the Lions will interview Texans DC Mike Vrabel for their head-coaching job on Wednesday.
• Jason La Canfora reports that Pat Shurmur will interview with the Lions on Thursday before visiting with the Cardinals soon after.
• Tom Pelissero reports that Packers assistant HC/LBs coach Winston Moss is another potential candidate for the Lions’ head-coaching position if they put in a request.
• Albert Breer is reporting that the Lions have already requested permission to interview Texans DC Mike Vrabel for their head-coaching job.
• Josina Anderson reports that the Lions will interview DC Teryl Austin for their open head coaching job on Tuesday.
• Tom Pelissero reports that Lions have requested an interview with Vikings OC Pat Shurmur for their head coaching job.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Lions have also requested permission to interview Panthers DC Steve Wilks.
• According to Ian apoport, Patriots DC Matt Patricia is expected to get an interview with the Lions.