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Another Lions Assistant Now a Threat to Leave Detroit for New Job

By Joe Summers

Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) protects against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) protects against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images / Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
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The Lions' coaching staff is among the most popular in the NFL right now as other organizations consider who should be the future leaders of their respective franchises. While most attention has centered around offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, one under-the-radar assistant is drawing interest as well.

Offensive line coach Hank Fraley, who is in his seventh year with Detroit, is scheduled to interview with the Seattle Seahawks on Friday for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Fraley has been instrumental in building the Lions' elite line, making him a logical candidate for a promotion.

Should Johnson get hired elsewhere as a head coach, Fraley is assumed to be on the short list of potential internal candidates that Detroit would consider.

Lions OL Coach Hank Fraley Interviewing With Seahawks

He spent 11 years in the NFL as a center with the Eagles, Browns, and Rams. In 2018, Fraley joined the Lions as an assistant line coach before taking over the entire offensive line two years later.

While excellent draft picks like Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow have helped, Fraley's work in the trenches helped mold Detroit's identity as a football team. His unit is widely recognized as the best in the NFL with no real weaknesses, allowing Johnson to unleash Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield.

Jared Goff enjoyed a career-best campaign thanks largely to the protection Fraley influenced. By any measure, he's one of the best position coaches in the league. Fraley has likely learned a lot from Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell as well, another feather in his cap during the interview process.

It's quite possible that the Lions experience a mass exodus in coaches this offseason. Johnson, Glenn, and Fraley could all realistically be poached, to say nothing of other assistants and front office staff.

Should Johnson get a head coaching job, could he take Fraley with him as his own offensive coordinator? Perhaps Campbell would promote Fraley instead to replace Johnson. Every option is on the table and it's overwhelmingly likely that Campbell's staff will look a lot different in 2025.

For now, Detroit is determined to bring the city its first Lombardi Trophy. As things stand going into Wild Card Weekend, the Lions are the betting favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook (+320) to win the Super Bowl.

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