Detroit Lions

Even though NFL teams can't make transactions official until the new league year begins March 17, Matthew Stafford might know where he's going to play next season before the Super Bowl. 

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that trade talks for Stafford are "hot and heavy" right now. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, there's "significant" interest in Stafford around the league and a deal could come together prior to Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Jan. 23 the Lions and Stafford have agreed to part ways following multiple discussions since the end of the regular season.

Schefter added Detroit is expected to receive "at least a first-round pick" in exchange for trading Stafford. The 32-year-old could be the first major domino to fall in an offseason that could see significant quarterback movement across the league. 

In addition to Stafford, Schefter has since reported that Deshaun Watson has formally requested a trade from the Houston Texans. Philip Rivers has already retired after spending last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Drew Brees has yet to announce if he will return to the New Orleans Saints. 

Dak Prescott, Mitchell Trubisky and Cam Newton are among the quarterbacks eligible for free agency this offseason. There are also teams that have a quarterback under contract for next season but might be looking for an upgrade. 

Stafford's future is the easiest to parse out because of the mutual interest between him and the Lions in moving on. His contract is also affordable for teams, especially compared to other players at the position. The Georgia alum has cap hits of $33 million in 2021 and $26 million in 2022, per Spotrac. 

Since being selected No. 1 overall by the Lions in the 2009 NFL draft, Stafford has thrown for 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns and completed 62.6 percent of his passes in 165 starts. 

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell is expected to join the Detroit Lions as the quarterbacks coach, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported earlier Thursday that Brunell was interviewing for the job. The three-time Pro Bowler, who was the backup to Drew Brees on the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in 2009, was most recently working as a radio host in Jacksonville, according to Rapoport. 

Brunell joined the Jaguars for their first season in 1995, one year after appearing in two games with the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him in the fifth round in 1993. Through nine years in Jacksonville, he led the team to four postseason appearances in its first five seasons, including its first division title in 1998. 

After leaving the Jaguars in 2003, he played in Washington, New Orleans and New York (Jets) before retiring in 2011. 

If Brunell is hired, he will reunite with offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, who was the running backs coach with the Jets when Brunell was with the team. But it's unclear who the 50-year-old will be coaching with the Lions, since franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford has formally requested a trade. 

The Detroit Lions aren't going to have a hard time finding suitors for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network: "The Lions, of course, immediately began fielding calls from teams interested. From what I understand, about a third of the league—almost a third of the league—has called the Lions. Significant interest in Matthew Stafford. Should be able to get at least a first-rounder there from wherever he goes." 

Stafford and the Lions "mutually agreed" on Saturday to part ways this offseason, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, with the Lions "listening to trade offers starting this week." Per that report, the Lions are "expected to receive at least a first-round pick."

With the Lions bringing in both a new general manager (Brad Holmes) and head coach (Dan Campbell), it was a logical time for a full rebuild and an opportunity for Stafford to get a fresh start elsewhere.

It also could be a very good offseason to move on from a veteran quarterback, with a number of teams with potentially playoff-ready rosters (Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team) likely in the market for a quarterback. 

Indianapolis might make the most sense after reaching the playoffs this past season with Philip Rivers under center. Rivers is retiring, but adding Stafford would keep the Colts on their current trajectory. 

Much of what happens with Stafford may depend on whether the Houston Texans decide to trade Deshaun Watson. Given that Watson will likely cost a small fortune's worth of future draft picks, however, the two players might attract different markets. 

Watson seems more likely to be pursued by teams with an excess of first- and second-round picks in the coming years like the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. If Watson isn't on the market, however, the Lions may end up with even more potential suitors for Stafford. 

The 2009 top overall pick threw for 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns and 144 interceptions in his time with the Lions, leading them to the postseason three times, though zero playoff wins.  

"It will be tough to replace a guy like Matt Stafford, who I feel like in a lot of ways carried the franchise for the last decade," Lions legend Barry Sanders said on the NFL Network's Good Morning Football. "A guy who showed up every day. You felt like you always had a chance with Matt. Maybe because of the new regime coming in and just seeing things different, sometimes things like this just happen."

Teams around the NFL are exploring their options when it comes to acquiring Matthew Stafford. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that teams have begun to approach the Detroit Lions "to initiate trade talks and figure out what it would take to acquire" the quarterback.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday morning that "about a third of the league" has reached out to the Lions about Stafford.

Stafford has reportedly requested a trade out of Detroit after 12 seasons, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. 

Schefter previously reported that the Lions are expecting at least a first-round pick in exchange for Stafford, who turns 33 in March. He has two years and $43 million remaining on his existing contract.

Such an exchange could give the Lions an even better chance to draft their future franchise quarterback, considering they already hold the No. 7 pick for a draft class that has at least three first-round quarterback talents in Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State's Justin Fields and BYU's Zach Wilson. 

Through 12 seasons with Detroit, Stafford has never won in the postseason, but he has a good regular-season resume. A Pro Bowler in 2014, Stafford finished 2020 with 4,084 passing yards—his eighth above the 4,000-yard threshold and first since 2017—while throwing 26 touchdowns with a 64.2 completion percentage. 

Rapoport said Monday that Stafford's decision to leave the Lions could be related to the departure of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who is reportedly joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Pelissero.

In his place, former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is expected to be named the offensive coordinator in Detroit under new head coach Dan Campbell. 

Matthew Stafford doesn't want to be a Detroit Lion any longer, and part of that could have to do with offensive coordinator and interim head coach Darrell Bevell's reported decision to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Monday that "[Stafford] would have wanted to stay there" following his 12th season with the team that drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2009 if Bevell had stuck around in Detroit.

Instead, Anthony Lynn will take over as offensive coordinator with the Lions. 

The Lions are attempting to rebuild following their miserable 5-11 season, having parted ways with general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia. In their place, they've hired Brad Holmes as GM and Dan Campbell as head coach, but they'll have to add someone new under center.

Stafford has two years and $43 million on his contract, while the Lions will take a $19 million cap hit if he isn't on the roster, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Lions are expecting at least a first-round pick in exchange for the 32-year-old, who is fresh off of his first 4,000-yard season since 2017. In 16 games, Stafford posted 4,084 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with a 64.2 completion percentage.

Depending on who looks to add Stafford to their roster, the Lions could end up in an even better position to draft his replacement than they already are. The Lions already hold the No. 7 pick, which puts them in a position to draft one of the top quarterbacks.

The franchise-quarterback-lacking Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets pick ahead of them, and even if the Philadelphia Eagles take a signal-caller at No. 6, they may be in a position to select BYU's Zach Wilson or even Alabama's Mac Jones, who ESPN's Mel Kiper predicted could still land in the top 10. 

Detroit Lions fans have donated more than $11,000 to the Acoustic Neuroma Association in honor of Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, as the team prepares to part ways with its longtime quarterback this offseason.

Chris Burke of The Athletic reported more than 1,300 Lions fans have made $9 donations in a nod to Stafford's jersey number.

Kelly Stafford was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor that can lead to balance and hearing problems, last year. She detailed her 12-hour surgery in an article for ESPN.

"I'll say this: Detroit and Michigan really showed up," Kelly Stafford wrote. "The Lions were incredible. They told Matthew to take all of the time and space he needed. And then, there were the fans. The amount of letters that poured into the facility—so many prayers, a lot of holy water—it was remarkable. Matthew joked that our house looked like a bootleg flower shop."

Matthew Stafford approached the Lions about a trade after the 2020 season, and the team is expected to grant his desire to move on. Kelly Stafford made an Instagram post Monday thanking the city of Detroit for standing by her and Matthew "during the toughest time of my life."

The Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Football Team and Houston Texans are believed to be potential trade suitors for Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. 

The Lions reportedly will "honor" Stafford's trade request by "exploring options for the quarterback on the market."

Fowler believes the Lions could get a solid trade package in return for Stafford, but nothing like the three or more first-round picks it might take to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans if he's indeed traded. Bringing aboard the 32-year-old would make the most sense for teams in position to win immediately who have solid rosters but questions at quarterback. 

The Colts fit that description perfectly, as they'll look to replace the retiring Philip Rivers and build on their 2020 postseason appearance. As Fowler reported, Indianapolis "is a spot Stafford most definitely has his eyes on."

"Makes a lot of sense, which is why the Colts will really look into making this work," an NFC executive added.

As for the Niners, well, they still have Jimmy Garoppolo under contract, with Fowler noting that "when you ask people around the league for potential fits for Stafford, San Francisco almost always comes up." Stafford would be an upgrade over Garoppolo, though the latter has gone 24-9 as the team's starter, leading them to the Super Bowl last season. 

Having to give up assets to acquire Stafford while giving up on Garoppolo in the process makes the Niners feel like a less realistic suitor than the Colts. 

Washington would make a lot of sense given an intriguing young roster that reached the postseason this year, albeit with a 7-9 record. Stafford would be an enormous upgrade at quarterback, with Fowler noting Washington is expected to shop around for quarterback help this offseason. 

"I think they'll at least explore it," an executive told Fowler regarding a potential trade for Stafford.

And hey, if the Texans do eventually trade Watson, they'll need to replace him, with one NFC executive suggesting to Fowler that pursuing Stafford might make sense in such a scenario. It would be a downgrade, however, especially for a Texans team that might be better off rebuilding from scratch if they trade Watson. 

If Houston moves its superstar quarterback for a slew of draft picks, it should consider drafting a young franchise option and building around that player rather than looking for the quick band-aid of a veteran like Stafford. 

Stafford threw for 4,084 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2020, completing 64.2 percent of his passes. It was his fifth season with at least 4,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.

Duce Staley will reportedly become the Detroit Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach after holding the same positions with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Staley had been the Eagles running back coach since 2013, but he asked out of his deal after the team hired Nick Sirianni as its new head coach.

According to John Clark of NBC Sports, he had "several other opportunities" around the league.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the Chicago Bears also had interest in the 45-year-old.

Staley spent 10 years in the NFL as a player, including seven with the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned to Philadelphia in 2010 as a coaching intern and worked his way up through the staff.

His rise has stalled recently, however, even though he interviewed for the head coaching job in 2016 and 2021 as well as offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2020, per Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The coach will now get a fresh start with the Lions under new head coach Dan Campbell.

Campbell had served as an assistant head coach and position coach for the past five years with the New Orleans Saints, so he likely sees the value in the role. Staley has also earned plenty of praise from players hoping to see him get a bigger role somewhere.

"Selfishly, I would love for him to stay here and be with us," Eagles running back Boston Scott said, per Bowen. "But I would hope he does get an opportunity to have an increased role in a coaching staff, and stuff like that, because I really think his work is there. I just really hope he gets that shot."

He will now try to help a Lions franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 1991 and is coming off three straight losing seasons. The rushing attack could especially use improvements after ranking 30th in the NFL in 2020.

Detroit hasn't finished in the top 20 in rushing yards since 2013. Staley and talented young running back D'Andre Swift could help snap that streak in 2021.

Kelly Stafford, wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, thanked the city of Detroit in a heartfelt Instagram post Monday: 

The goodbye post seemingly confirms the rumors that Stafford's time with the Lions is over after 12 seasons with the team.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the quarterback wanted a fresh start next season, and the team will discuss trade options in the next week.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, parting ways was "mutually agreed upon," and "the Lions are expected to receive at least a first-round pick" in a trade.

It allows new head coach Dan Campbell to start his tenure with the team with a hand-picked quarterback and more flexibility over the roster going forward.

Stafford will leave the Lions as the all-time franchise leader in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, with more than twice as many as No. 2 Bobby Layne in each category. Despite the individual production, he hasn't found as much team success with just three playoff appearances and no postseason wins.

After three straight losing seasons, the 32-year-old could now have a chance to play for a contender.

The Detroit Lions reportedly expect to receive "at least" a first-round pick in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the two sides mutually agreed to part ways, and the Lions are expected to be aggressive in pursuing a trade for their longtime franchise face.

Stafford's trade market is an interesting case that will test the value of a good-but-not-great quarterback leaguewide. There is no question that Stafford is an above-average quarterback when he's on the field. He's posted a quarterback rating of 89.9 or higher in each of the last six seasons and thrown no more than 13 interceptions in that timeframe after being turnover prone early in his career.

Heading into his age-33 season, Stafford is 16th in NFL history in both passing touchdowns (282) and passing yards (45,109). Given the Lions have been playing at a significant talent disparity for most of his career—Calvin Johnson and Kenny Golladay aside, Stafford has been left with a below-average supporting cast—there's an argument to be made that he could even improve with a change of scenery.

However, Stafford has increasingly found himself on the injury report and that should be a concern to teams moving forward. Stafford missed eight games in 2019 with a fractured spine, then played 16 games in 2020 despite thumb, rib and ankle injuries.

This was the ninth time in 10 seasons that Stafford has played 16 games, but he's been far from "healthy" over that timeframe. His continued presence in the lineup is more a testament to his toughness than anything.

The Lions likely won't lack for suitors, even despite those concerns. The Indianapolis Colts stand out as an obvious option, given their status as a playoff team and Philip Rivers' recent retirement. Washington and the Chicago Bears are additional potential options if Detroit is willing to trade Stafford in the conference or division.