Lions Interviewed Saints Asst. GM Jeff Ireland Friday

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland interviewed for the Lions’ GM vacancy on Friday. 

Here’s the updated list of candidates for the Lions’ GM position: 

• Former Texans GM Rick Smith (Interviewed)
• VP of player personnel Kyle O’Brien (Interviewed)
• Director of player personnel Lance Newmark (Interviewed)
• Director of pro scouting Rob Lohman (Interviewed)
• ESPN analyst Louis Riddick (Interviewed)
• Former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff (Interviewed)
• Former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli (Interviewed)
• Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes (scheduled)
• Saints VP/assistant GM-pro personnel Terry Fontenot (Scheduled)
• Vikings assistant GM George Paton (Scheduled)
• Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland (Interviewed)

Ireland began his NFL career as a scout back in 1994. He later took a scouting position with the Chiefs before moving on and joining the Cowboys’scouting department in 2001.

Ireland was eventually promoted VP of college and pro scouting before he took the Dolphins general manager position. After a year as a draft consultant for the Seahawks, the Saints hired him as their assistant GM and college scouting director in 2015. They signed him to an extension in 2017. 

We’ll have more on the Lions GM search as the news is available.