Five days after their season-ending loss, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has three vacancies on his coaching staff to address.
One of those positions is expected to be filled by Kacy Rodgers, who is set to join as the new defensive line coach, while the process to fill another spot is underway.
As initially reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are interviewing Larry Foote for the defensive coordinator position, which became vacant after Aaron Glenn left to become the New York Jets’ head coach.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports also confirmed that Foote is expected to interview with the Lions.
Foote, 44, is a Detroit native and graduate of the University of Michigan. He played linebacker in the NFL for 13 seasons (2002–2014) across three teams, including a season with the Lions in 2009.
He won two Super Bowl titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers before finishing his playing career with the Arizona Cardinals.
Foote began coaching immediately after retiring, starting as the assistant outside linebackers coach for the Cardinals in 2015.
Three years later, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their outside linebackers coach, a role he has held for the past six seasons.
In 2022, he transitioned to being the Buccaneers’ inside linebackers coach and passing game coordinator. Like Rodgers, Foote’s contract with Tampa Bay expired at the end of the season.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, who expressed discontent with the Lions targeting the Buccaneers’ defensive coaches despite their contracts expiring, Tampa Bay is reportedly interested in retaining Foote.
The Lions’ search for Glenn’s replacement will likely include other candidates, but if Foote is chosen, he would reunite with Rodgers in Detroit.
During their six seasons together in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers’ defense ranked in the top 10 in points allowed three times and only dropped to the league’s bottom half once (29th in 2019, during the first year under Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles).