Hank Fraley is out of the Seahawks’ OC search. As the Lions grapple with losing both their coordinators and their D-line coach, they will retain their O-line leader. It will take a promotion to ensure that happens.
The Lions will add a run-game coordinator bump to their O-line coach’s title, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets
. This will ensure Fraley stays in charge of one of the NFL’s top O-lines, and it takes a name out of consideration for the Seahawks. The Lions had lost Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn and Terrell Williams this week.
Fraley’s wife, Danielle, initially broke the news her husband would be staying. Danielle Fraley mentioned Chicago as a rumored destination, which would have made sense given that Johnson is now running the show there. But Hank Fraley will continue for an eighth season in Detroit. He had joined Johnson in arriving under Matt Patricia, though Fraley has been in Detroit longer — since 2018. The Lions had hired him as their assistant O-line coach, before promoting him in 2020. Fraley has overseen one of the NFL’s top blocking groups since.
The Seahawks met with Fraley twice about potentially replacing Ryan Grubb; the second meeting took place in-person earlier this week . Seattle has Klint Kubiak and Vikings assistant Grant Udinski as its other present finalists . Both Kubiak and Udinski met about the job January 17. This Seahawks process is now dragging a bit, and it will be interesting to see whether the team chooses between the Saints and Vikings staffers soon or adds another finalist.
Fraley has been Detroit’s O-line coach throughout All-Pro Penei Sewell ‘s career, and Frank Ragnow has been a regular Pro Bowler under Fraley. The Lions also saw Graham Glasgow rediscover his best form when back with Fraley, after he had struggled to justify a Broncos free agency deal. While Dan Campbell has plenty of work to do elsewhere on his staff, he will not need to worry about his O-line setup for the time being.
It is a bit interesting the Lions did not need to dangle the OC title for Fraley to stay, but with no known interviews commencing, the team would have needed to comply with the Rooney Rule to make that happen. That would mean one external minority is interviewed. Fraley will be set to be a top lieutenant under Detroit’s to-be-determined next play-caller.
Elsewhere on the Lions’ staff, Campbell has added a replacement for Williams. Kacy Rodgers, whose Buccaneers contract had expired, will take over as D-line coach, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets . Rodgers had interviewed for the Packers’ job as well . Rodgers, 55, had worked under Todd Bowles for the past 10 seasons, moving from Jets DC to Bucs D-line coach. The 55-year-old assistant has been in the NFL since 2003. Notably, Rodgers’ first NFL gig — as Cowboys DTs coach from 2003-04 — overlapped with Campbell’s time as a Dallas tight end. Rodgers moved up to Cowboys D-line coach during Campbell’s final Dallas season (2005).