Lions assistant Bobby Johnson hired by Raiders

The Detroit Lions are expected to retain defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, and they ensured that quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter will be back by blocking the Chicago Bears from interviewing him. There will be at least one change to the Lions' coaching staff in 2015, though, as assistant offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has been hired by the Oakland Raiders.

Bobby Johnson's contract with the #Lions is set to expire, so he'll join the #Raiders as TEs coach. Offensive staff should be done soon.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 26, 2015

Johnson served as the Lions' tight ends coach in 2013. He previously held that job with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he shifted over to assistant offensive line coach with the Lions in 2014 after Jim Caldwell was hired. Dave Birkett reports that Johnson was among the candidates for the offensive line coach job with the New York Jets, but Johnson is instead headed to Oakland to once again coach tight ends.

The Lions' previous assistant offensive line coach, Terry Heffernan, is likely going to step back into that role in 2015, according to Birkett. Last year, Heffernan was the Lions' offensive quality control coach, but he was the assistant offensive line coach in 2013 after being hired from Wayne State.