| Detroit Free Press
Here’s who the Detroit Lions will play in the 2021 NFL season
A look at Detroit Lions opponents in 2021, at home and away, in what is expected to be the first regular season of 17 NFL games.
Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press
Robert Saleh, long considered fan favorite as the next Detroit The Lions coach is leaving for New York on Tuesday for a second interview with the Jets, and the chances appear to be diminishing that he will take over his hometown team.
Saleh, a Dearborn native, interviewed Lions and four other teams last week: Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers.
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He had a strong enough interview with the Jets who is now considered a favorite for this job, while the Lions have yet to show any inclination that they will call him back for a second meeting.
Lions are expected to interview their sixth and seventh head coach candidates this week, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and have also expressed interest in at least one college head coach.
Interim coach Darrell Bevell, former Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and New Orleans Saints assistant coach Dan Campbell have been officially interviewed for the job.
Bevell is considered a legitimate candidate and has connections with two potential GM contractors, assistant GM Ed Dodds of Indianapolis Colts and assistant GM George Paton of Minnesota Vikings.
Lewis told people he had a good interview with the Lions, and a report from Dallas on Tuesday indicated some in the Lions building prefer Campbell, a former NFL tight end who played for Lions and the Dallas Cowboys during his career.
Campbell also has direct links to two GM candidates, assistant Saints GMs, Terry Fontenot and Jeff Ireland, although Fontenot is considered a favorite for the Atlanta Falcons GM position.
Lions are expected to bring one or two top candidates to Detroit for personal interviews for their positions as head coach and GM. They have already met Paton in person, although Paton is going to Denver for a second interview on Tuesday with the Broncos.
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Lions have announced interviews with 11 GM candidates so far, with Dodds being the 12th to meet with the team on Tuesday. Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert also remains on the Lions radar if he wants to leave Pittsburgh.
As for Saleh, he is being sought after helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl last season and thereafter with a top seven result in total, running and passing the defense, despite significant injuries this year.
ESPN reported that the Philadelphia Eagles, who fired coach Doug Pederson on Monday, requested an interview with Saleh on Tuesday.
On Monday, Lions’ owner Sheila Ford Hamp, President Rod Wood and adviser Chris Spielman made a call from Zoom to about 40 alumni to update them on the coach and GM searches. No favorites for either position were named in the conference call, which included pre-moderated questions and lasted about half an hour.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.