The Detroit Lions are reportedly targeting New Orleans Saints assistant coach Dan Campbell as the team’s next head coach.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Campbell has emerged as the favorite to land the gig:
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#Saints assistant head coach/TEs coach Dan Campbell has emerged as the favorite to be the new #Lions head coach, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. No in-person interview can be conducted until their season has ended, so it’s all on hold officially until then.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2021
Rapoport added: “Dan Campbell has impressed with his leadership in New Orleans. Now, assuming all goes well with the process, he’ll have a chance to do the same with the Lions.”
Campbell has head coaching experience -- as an interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2015. He went 5-7 during that stint. Since then, he’s been a top assistant on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans.
Campbell, 44, actually played tight end for the Lions from 2006 to 2008, appearing in 19 games. He was part of the infamous 0-16 season. He was also part of the Saints Super Bowl winning team in 2009-2010, but was injured before the season started that year and never played a game. He retired as a player after that season.
The Lions hired a general manager on Thursday, bringing in Brad Holmes, the college director of scouting for the L.A. Rams. If Campbell is the guy, the Lions won’t be able to hire him until the Saints season is over.
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