Report: Dan Campbell is the ‘favorite’ to be next Detroit Lions head coach

The Detroit Lions may have their new head coach less than 24 hours after deciding on Brad Holmes as their next general manager. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, New Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell has emerged as the “favorite” for the Lions job.

Campbell cannot have a follow-up interview with the Lions until the Saints have been eliminated from the playoffs, so nothing is official yet, but given Rapoport’s wording, it does seem that he may be the guy.

“Saints assistant head coach/TEs coach Dan Campbell has emerged as the favorite to be the new #Lions head coach, sources tell me and @TomPelissero,” Rapoport tweeted. “No in-person interview can be conducted until their season has ended, so it’s all on hold officially until then.:

Campbell is a high-character hire with limited experience as a head coach. Replacing Joe Philbin as the Dolphins interim coach in 2015, Campbell recorded a 5-7 record. Since then, he’s been the assistant head coach alongside Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints.

Campbell is also a former NFL tight end who spent the final three years of his playing career with the Detroit Lions from 2006 to 2008.

If Campbell ends up being the hire, the biggest question will be who he hires as part of his coaching staff. He’s not considered much of a scheme or Xs-and-Os type, so the staff he surrounds himself with will be drastically important for the Lions’ future direction.

In other Lions head coaching news, they have cancelled their interview with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, which seems to only further indicate they may be done with their search.