Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford's 12-year run with the Detroit Lions will reportedly come to an end this offseason. 

Per NFL.com's Tom Pelissero, Stafford and the Lions have mutually agreed to part ways, with the team set to begin trade discussions with interested clubs "in the coming weeks."

"The sides have had open and healthy discussions since the season ended," Pelissero wrote. "But with the Lions starting over again, hiring Dan Campbell as head coach and Brad Holmes as general manager, Stafford told the team he feels it's the right time to move on and team officials agreed, per sources."

Chris Burke of The Athletic reported the decision to part ways came after Stafford approached Lions management at the conclusion of the regular season, and the team made new head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes aware of the situation before they were hired earlier this week. 

ESPN's Field Yates broke down the financial implications in Stafford's current contract:

Matthew Stafford contract notes:
* Currently signed through 2022
* Due base salaries of $9.5M in 2021 and $12.5M in 2022
* Has $10M roster bonuses and $500K workout bonuses in each year
* Cap hits for the acquiring team would be $20M in 2021 and $23M in 2022

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 23, 2021

While there's no set timetable for a trade to be completed, Pelissero's report noted one "would likely happen" before the fifth day of the new league year in March, when Stafford is owed a $10 million roster bonus. 

There were rumblings last offseason that Stafford was seeking a trade, but he wound up remaining in Detroit for the 2020 campaign. 

The quarterback market this offseason could be beneficial to teams looking for a new starter. Not only is Stafford reportedly on the trade block, but Jenny Vrentas and Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated reported last week that Deshaun Watson also "wants out" due to his unhappiness with the Houston Texans. 

There are also several quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL draft class with first-round potential, including presumptive No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance. 

If the Lions end up moving Stafford, they could pursue one of the top draft quarterbacks with the No. 7 overall pick. 

The Lions hit the reset button in November when they fired head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. They finished the regular season 5-11, their third straight losing record. 

Stafford has been Detroit's starting quarterback since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL draft. He is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards (45,109), touchdowns (282) and completions (3,898).

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is reportedly adding Anthony Lynn to his coaching staff.

Per The Athletic's Michael Lombardi, Lynn is expected to finalize a deal with the Lions to become their new offensive coordinator Saturday.

Lynn spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He was fired on Jan. 4 after the team finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the third time during his tenure.

Prior to being hired by the Chargers, Lynn had extensive experience as an assistant coach in the NFL. The 52-year-old began his coaching career as a special teams assistant with the Denver Broncos in 2000. He was the running backs coach for five different teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-2004), Dallas Cowboys (2005-2006), Cleveland Browns (2007-2008), New York Jets (2009-2014) and Buffalo Bills (2015-2016).

Lynn previously served as an offensive coordinator for the Bills in 2016. They finished 10th in the NFL in scoring with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback.

Campbell was hired as Detroit's head coach Wednesday.

The Lions are looking to get back on track coming off a 5-11 record in 2020 and three straight losing seasons.

The Detroit Lions are looking for an offensive coordinator under new head coach Dan Campbell, and they may reportedly turn to the Pittsburgh Steelers staff.  

According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Lions will interview Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard for the offensive coordinator spot. The 2020 season was Hilliard's first as the wide receivers coach for the Steelers.

Hilliard has been an offensive coach in the NFL for 10 years and had stints with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Washington.

Pittsburgh's offense was a middling 15th in the league in passing yards this season while winning the AFC North. The wide receiver position was one of the most productive for the entire team, as Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster all went over 800 receiving yards.

Johnson put up career-highs with 923 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while Claypool tallied 873 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie out of Notre Dame.

Detroit was just 20th in the league in points on the way to a 5-11 record in 2020.

It hasn't made the playoffs since the 2016 campaign and will need to make significant strides on the offensive side of the ball under Campbell if it plans on changing that in 2021. If the Lions hire Hilliard, he will look to replicate some of the wide receiver success he enjoyed in Pittsburgh.

Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest players in Detroit Lions history, but the six-time Pro Bowler has made it clear in the past he doesn't want anything to do with the franchise.   

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp indicated she is hoping to mend fences with Johnson at some point:

“Well, I'm not going to go into the money issue, but I hope we can repair things with Calvin Johnson. He was obviously an amazing player for us and we're going to continue to reach out to him and hope that we can repair things because I think it's important that he come back into the Lions family. We'd love if he could or he will."

Johnson's career came to an end after nine seasons when he announced his retirement from the NFL in March 2016. 

In the time since he walked away from the Lions and professional football, Johnson has said multiple times that his issues with the organization stem from how they handled his exit. 

Specifically, Johnson was upset that general manager Bob Quinn and president Rod Wood immediately asked him to return a prorated portion of his signing bonus. 

"It had to surprise [then-Lions head coach Jim Caldwell], cause then he told me to wait around and he got the GM and stuff," Johnson told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press in June 2018. "But I knew there was going to be a problem once Rod talked to me, and the first thing out of his mouth was like, 'Did you earn all your bonus?' I was like, 'Oh, s--t.' I knew right then it was going to be a problem. I was like, 'All right, I see how it's going to be.'"

Johnson told Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg the amount he was asked to return, around $1.6 million, "wasn't no killer ... but at the end of the day, you don't do that to your best players."

The Lions selected Johnson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. After a strong rookie season, Megatron exploded in 2008 with 1,331 yards and a league-high 12 touchdown catches. 

In the final game of his career against the Chicago Bears on Jan. 3, 2016, Johnson had 137 yards and one touchdown on 10 catches. He is the franchise's all-time leader in targets (1,312), receptions (731), receiving yards (11,619) and touchdown receptions (83). 

Johnson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, his first year of eligibility. The 2021 Class will be announced on Feb. 6. 

New Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated he will have a hard-nosed team with his fiery introductory press conference Thursday:

I think it's fair to say Detroit fans are fired up about Lions football after new head coach Dan Campbell's introductory media conference.

The former #Saints associate head coach avoiding all cliches and coach speak!

***WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*** pic.twitter.com/b5mWXv3qlX

— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) January 21, 2021

"Here's what I do know," Campbell explained. "This team is going to take on the identity of this city, and this city's been down and it found a way to get up. It's found a way to overcome adversity. So this team is going to be built on, we're going to kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back, we're going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we're gonna get up, and on the way up, we're gonna bite a kneecap off."

He also said that no matter how many times the Lions are knocked down, they would be "the last one standing." 

The Lions certainly need a change in mindset after three losing seasons under Matt Patricia. The squad finished 2020 ranked dead last in both points and yards allowed on the way to a 5-11 record.

The organization has had some quality seasons in the last decade but it hasn't won a playoff game since 1991.

Campbell will hope his attitude can help turn things around, sending a message to both the current players and potential free agents with his words Thursday.

The 44-year-old spent 10 years in the NFL as a player, including his final three with the Lions from 2016-18, catching 91 career passes as a tight end. He began coaching in 2010 with the Miami Dolphins and later served as the team's tight ends coach before going 5-7 as the interim head coach in 2015.

Campbell's last five seasons have been with the New Orleans Saints as the tight ends coach and assistant head coach, helping one of the most consistent teams in the NFL.

Detroit is hoping his resume and intensity will lead to more success on the field.

In the Houston Texans' 2019 season opener, quarterback Deshaun Watson generated four total touchdowns and posted a 114.3 passer rating in a heroic road performance against the juggernaut New Orleans Saints.

That memorable display, which was capped by an epic 37-yard go-ahead touchdown pass from Watson to Kenny Stills in the final minute, was witnessed firsthand by then-Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell. 

On Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Campbell officially became the new head coach of the Detroit Lions. 

The first thing he and new Lions general manager Brad Holmes should do is call the Texans about acquiring the player who lit up the Saints that night and has been lighting up the league since 2017. 

While veteran Matthew Stafford wasn't the primary reason the Lions couldn't get it done under the previous regime, this is the time to attempt a thorough reset by replacing a so-called franchise quarterback who has carried the team to a grand total of zero playoff wins in 12 seasons. 

The energizing Campbell, in particular, should bring fresh vibes to the organization, but it'll be hard to truly refocus with a new look and feel with the face of the franchise remaining the same. Stafford turns 33 in February, he's won just 6.2 games per campaign in those 12 seasons, and—for the first time in years—the Lions can actually save money ($14 million, according to Spotrac) by parting ways with the one-time Pro Bowler. 

Plus, word is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL may be available at the age of 25, which creates an incredibly rare, if not unprecedented, opportunity. 

A schism has clearly developed between Watson and the Texans, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this week that "there is a growing sense from people in and around the Texans' organization that [Watson] has played his last snap for the team."

The new regime in Detroit should do everything it can to make the perennial Pro Bowler a Lion, and Holmes and Campbell are actually well-positioned to make a run at the superstar quarterback.

Stafford himself might be a potential trade piece if Houston figures a change of scenery could also help the 2009 No. 1 overall pick take his career to the next level, but the Lions also possess the No. 7 overall pick in this year's draft. That could give them a clear advantage over other potential Watson suitors like the San Francisco 49ers (who pick 12th) or Chicago Bears (who pick 20th) and a small edge over the Carolina Panthers (who pick eighth) and Denver Broncos (who pick ninth). 

The Texans would likely prefer to trade Watson far from the Lone Star State and even farther from the AFC, which could help Detroit's chances in comparison to the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. 

And while the No. 7 overall pick and a 2022 first-round pick might not get the job done based on past trades involving superstar veterans, Stafford's talent and experience could intrigue the Texans, as could the promise possessed by the Lions' 2020 No. 3 overall selection, Jeff Okudah. Opposing quarterbacks completed a league-high 69.7 percent of their passes against Houston's 30th-ranked defense last season, so a shiny new cornerback might be highly valued by the Texans in trade negotiations. 

The point is, the Lions can generate a multitude of potential packages for Houston to contemplate.  

Watson would cost the Lions—who are projected by Spotrac to enter the offseason with just $3.4 million in cap space—less than $11 million in 2021 before his salary skyrockets when his four-year, $156 million extension kicks in in 2022. In other words, they'd save $3 million in 2021 cap space by jumping from Stafford to Watson, which could make it easier for them to re-sign top wide receiver Kenny Golladay—an impending free agent.

Watson's contract could make it hard to splurge on free agents for several years to come, but the cap is also expected to rise substantially when new television deals come to fruition relatively soon.

Besides, if there was ever a time and place to mortgage the future, this might be it. The Lions are already paying their top pass-rusher (27-year-old Trey Flowers), their left tackle (27-year-old Taylor Decker) and their foremost defensive stalwart (31-year-old linebacker Jamie Collins Sr.) like superstars. Those key pieces are in their primes, and the team can't afford to rebuild while those guys age along with Golladay, center Frank Ragnow and highly paid offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai. 

Quarterbacks of Watson's ilk and age simply do not become available.

Watson has a combined 121 passing and rushing touchdowns in 54 career games, which ranks behind only Dan Marino's total of 127 as the second-highest 54-game mark in modern league history. His 104.5 career passer rating is the second-highest qualified mark of all time, and in 2020, he was the NFL's second-highest-rated passer despite playing for a dysfunctional four-win team. He's clutch, often magical, and he led a total of 10 game-winning drives and eight fourth-quarter comebacks when the Texans were competitive in 2018 and 2019. 

Put simply, he's extremely special. 

Holmes is apparently forward-thinking and analytical. That's a sign he potentially won't get caught up in the Lions' past. He praised Stafford in his introductory press conference but did not make any commitments at quarterback, and owner Sheila Ford Hamp is leaving roster decisions to Holmes and Campbell. 

The Lions might still believe in Stafford, but they can't pass up on a chance to upgrade to a younger, already more accomplished player at the sport's most critical position.

         

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.

The Detroit Lions and new head coach Dan Campbell have reportedly reached an agreement on a six-year contract.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the news Wednesday. Detroit later confirmed the hire:

Welcome Dan Campbell❗️

📰 https://t.co/0qDcsOzNLl#OnePride pic.twitter.com/51eWbsmsOp

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 20, 2021

Campbell was rumored as the Lions' choice after the New Orleans Saints, for whom he as an assistant head coach and tight ends coach under Sean Payton for the past five years, were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It took a couple of days to hammer out the details, but now the 44-year-old Texas native is set to take over the Lions following their 5-11 season in 2020.

The former NFL tight end spent three seasons in Detroit (2006-08) during his playing career. The team won just 10 games during his tenure and has only qualified for the playoffs three times since his departure, never advancing beyond the wild-card round.

So Campbell faces a tall task in helping turn around the franchise as he becomes a full-time head coach for the first time. Before his time in New Orleans, he spent six years on the Miami Dolphins staff, including 12 games as their interim head coach in 2015. The Dolphins went 5-7 in those contests.

Payton praised the Texas A&M product after adding him to the Saints staff in 2016.

"I think he's a great worker. He's always a good team guy," Payton said. "I had a chance to see him coach in Miami and watch the success he's had, and then even in a short period of time, becoming the head coach there, so that was an easy decision for me because I just know how he is. And I know he's a great teacher."

Before Campbell gets to put those teaching skills in action, he'll have to work with new Lions general manager Brad Holmes to revitalize the roster during the offseason.

Detroit's talent level is well below the NFL's championship contenders, which was evident as it ranked 20th in total offense and last in total defense in 2020.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes praised quarterback Matthew Stafford at his introductory press conference Tuesday but did not commit to the 12-year veteran's long-term future in Michigan, noting that he had to evaluate the entire team.

"Matthew, great player," Holmes said, via Justin Rose of WXYZ. "You appreciate how intangibles show on film, but it is my job to evaluate the entire roster. I have not had any discussions with Matthew or any player."

Holmes has been on the job for just five days, and he's tasked with overhauling a team that has gone 8-23-1 in the past two years.

He has a lot of work ahead of him to evaluate the team, ranging from Stafford to the 53rd man on the roster, so it wasn't surprising to see him offer a more reserved answer regarding any of the personnel at this juncture.

Stafford, who the Lions took No. 1 overall in the 2009 draft, completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 26 touchdowns and 7.7 passing yards per attempt. He started all 16 games for the ninth time in 10 seasons and largely excelled despite missing No. 1 wideout Kenny Golladay for 11 games due to injury.

On one hand, Stafford looks like he has at least a few years left in his prime, and he certainly isn't at fault for the Lions sporting the No. 32 scoring defense in football last year.

On the other hand, the ex-Georgia star turns 33 years old in February, and the Lions own the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. They could be in position to grab a signal-caller of the future if they so choose and trade Stafford for assets as part of a larger rebuild for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1991.

Still, Stafford has largely been exceptional (and underrated) in Detroit, so seeing him stick around wouldn't be a shock by any means. Regardless, Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the rest of the front office and coaches have work to do to pilot the last-place Lions back into postseason contention.

Dan Campbell reportedly has his defensive coordinator. 

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the new Detroit Lions head coach is hiring New Orleans Saints secondary coach Aaron Glenn to fill the role. The two worked together in New Orleans, where Campbell was the assistant head coach and tight ends coach before taking the Lions job. 

Glenn, 48, spent 15 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback between the New York Jets (1994-01), Houston Texans (2002-04), Dallas Cowboys (2005-06), Jacksonville Jaguars (2007) and New Orleans Saints (2008). He was a three-time Pro Bowler, registering 41 career interceptions.

After his playing career Glenn spent two seasons in the Jets front office as a pro personnel scout (2012) and a college area scout (2013). He then spent two seasons (2014-15) as an assistant secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Saints in secondary coach in 2016, where he's been since. 

Glenn helped lead an excellent Saints secondary in 2020 that finished fifth in pass defense (217.0 YPG) and tied for first in the NFL with 18 interceptions. 

Getting Aaron Glenn is a big get for the Lions. Up-and-coming defensive coordinator played in league should fit in very well with Dan Campbell. And they’ve played together before they coach together before excellent marriage here.

— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) January 19, 2021

A future HC https://t.co/gZ7FWjEoHQ

— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) January 19, 2021

If Lion's fans know anything about what Aaron Glenn is all about, they should be very happy about this. https://t.co/kEaru3xLhr

— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) January 19, 2021

He'll have a taller task in Detroit, guiding a defense that finished last in both yards (419.8) and points (32.4) per game this past season. 

Glenn is considered a fast-riser in the coaching ranks. He'll certainly have the chance to prove he's worth the hype as he attempts to rebuild Detroit's hapless defense.

.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is a Hall of Fame finalist for the first time this year, and he is hoping for immediate induction.  

"Of course, it will feel like a slight, I guess, if you don't get in the first time and you're up there, you're a finalist," Johnson told NFL Network's Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter on the Huddle & Flow podcast (h/t Adam Maya of NFL.com). "I can't say that it wouldn't, because we're human, we're emotional. But it'll happen. I confidently feel like it'll happen. Will it happen first time? That would be awesome. Get it out of the way. Why not?"

Perhaps nothing is working against Johnson's chances of landing in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot more than the historical precedent at his position.

Maya noted only six wide receivers in NFL history have been named first-ballot Hall of Famers. Notable names such as Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Cris Carter and Michael Irvin are among those who weren't.

There was little doubting Johnson's status as a Hall of Fame talent during his nine-year career with the Lions.

He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in seven of those years, led the league in receiving yards twice, made six Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro three times. In all, he finished with 731 catches for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns.

It was rather shocking when Johnson did retire considering he went over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last six seasons and tallied 1,214 in his final one. He was still among the league's best overall playmakers and a matchup nightmare who was too big and fast for almost every cornerback he went up against.

Whether nine years of dominance will be enough to convince Hall of Fame voters to put him in on his first ballot remains to be seen, and he will find out on Feb. 6 when the class is revealed.