Lions get moving on coach search

The NFL's coaching carousel is spinning rapidly, and the Lions have jumped aboard.
The Lions are one of eight teams in the market to hire a new head coach, and they will be in direct competition with teams considering the same candidates.

The Lions reportedly have confirmed interviews with at least three candidates -- assistant coaches Gary Kubiak of Denver and Mike Singletary of San Francisco and Jim Haslett, recently fired after six seasons as coach of the Saints.



Others are sure to follow, even if they are with out-of-work coaches hoping to throw their name into the job market. Among the assistant coaches likely to be on the short list of Lions president Matt Millen are Russ Grimm, assistant head coach of the Steelers and a teammate on the 1991 Washington team that won the Super Bowl, and Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. Millen has not eliminated interim head coach Dick Jauron as a candidate.

It is difficult at this time to separate fact from fantasy as coaches and their agents seek to have their names attached to openings.

Haslett confirmed in New Orleans on Wednesday that he has an interview set up with the Lions, and there were reports that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is a candidate.

"I'm looking forward to hearing what they have to say," Haslett told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

One potential high-profile candidate is Mike Martz, who was fired on Monday after six seasons as head coach of the Rams. Martz reportedly has told people in St. Louis that he is intrigued by the potential of the Lions' young offensive players.

However, that does not mean that the Lions will have an interest in Martz, who is highly regarded for his ability to develop quarterbacks and build offenses, both as an assistant and head coach.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Singletary. He has only three years of experience -- two as Baltimore's linebackers coach and the 2005 season as assistant head coach and linebackers coach in San Francisco. Singletary, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played linebacker for 12 seasons with the Bears.

Singletary's interview with the Lions will be his first for a head coaching position in the NFL.
"I feel very excited," Singletary said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to what they have to say. The most important thing is, is it right? Is it right for them and is it right for me? If that's the case, going forward, I'm tremendously excited."

Singletary has gotten support from 49ers coach Mike Nolan, who was Baltimore's defensive coordinator for the two seasons Singletary was with the Ravens. Nolan hired Singletary as assistant head coach when he took the San Francisco job in 2005.

Singletary is aware that the experience issue might work against him in the eyes of some teams.
"I don't think a head coach is something you become," Singletary said. "I think it's something you are. At some point in time, it's discovered by somebody else. One of my strengths is leadership."

Denver Broncos officials have confirmed that Kubiak has been contacted by the Lions and Houston Texans. The Texans reportedly will talk to Kubiak Friday. Kubiak is a Houston native.
In an interview on Tuesday, Millen would not speak specifically about any candidates.
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