With Bill O’Brien and Lovie Smith landing gigs in Houston and Tampa Bay respectively and with the Tom Cable rumors apparently being false, the Lions coaching search continues on.
According to recent reports, Detroit seems to be very interested in San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.
We pointed out last week that San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt would be a prime candidate to take over in Detroit if the Lions ousted Jim Schwartz.
Now we know that is indeed the case.
Citing people who have received calls from the Lions, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports the organization has been calling around, checking Whisenhunt’s references. Detroit’s interest is “very strong,” per Rapoport.
With O’Brien and Smith off the board, Whisenhunt is probably the hottest candidate out there to take over an NFL team. Unfortunately though for the Lions, Whisenhunt is unavailable to interview at this time due to the Chargers still being in the playoffs.
A name however that’s free to interview is former Colts head coach and current Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell who the Lions have already scheduled an interview with this Friday per Adam Schefter.
Lions are scheduled to interview Ravens OC Jim Caldwell for their HC job Friday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2014
Either way the Lions seem to have a pretty clear direction when it comes to their desires in a new head coach… offense. Caldwell and Whisenhunt both are flat out offensive minded coaches with a specific focus on quarterbacks and wide receivers, two perceived strengths of the Lions.
