Detroit Lions quickly approached their quarterback coach. According to Tom Pelissero, Lions must hire Mark Brunell for the position.
Brunell was interviewed for the job on Thursday and was one of three candidates for the job, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The identities of the other two candidates were never disclosed.
As for Brunell, this will be his first foray into NFL training. He spent 19 years in the league as a defender, accumulating three Pro Bowls, 184 touchdowns, 108 interceptions, a passer career rating of 84.0 and an overall record of 78-73.
He spent his last eight years as head coach of the Episcopal High School football team in Jacksonville, Florida. Brunell inherited a 3-8 football team in 2013 and took him to 10-2 in 2019, earning his first home win in the playoff and state ranking in the program’s history. In 2020, the team finished 6-3 and reached the regional semifinals in the playoffs.
Brunell will have the important task of training who will be Matthew Stafford’s successor, as the Lions mutually agreed to negotiate the franchise’s quarterback before the start of the 2021 season.
This hiring follows the recent trend of Lions to hire former players for their coaching staff. Coach Dan Campbell, running back coach Duce Staley, offensive line coach Hank Fraley, offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have had significant careers in the NFL as players.