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The Detroit Lions have found their new offensive coordinator. As first reported by Chris Mortensen and later confirmed by Tim Twentyman, the Lions are hiring New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi to be the offensive coordinator on Jim Caldwell's coaching staff.
Lombardi, who is the grandson of Vince Lombardi, joined the Saints in 2007 as an offensive assistant. He became New Orleans' quarterbacks coach in 2009, and the Saints won the Super Bowl that season. He continued to serve in that role through the 2013 season before the Lions made a move to hire him on Tuesday.
Before going to New Orleans, Lombardi was actually a defensive assistant for one season with the Atlanta Falcons. He went to Atlanta after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mercyhurst College from 2002-05. That's his only experience as an offensive coordinator, but that will change going forward with him being hired by the Lions.
Lombardi doesn't exactly have NFL experience as an offensive coordinator, but it's not clear if he will call the plays for the Lions or if that will be Caldwell's job. Either way, I can't fault adding someone who has been involved with the Saints' high-powered offense over the years. The Lions now have a head coach who worked with Peyton Manning and an offensive coordinator who worked with Drew Brees. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come for Matthew Stafford.
