(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, the Lions are interviewing Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard for their open offensive coordinator position this afternoon.
Hilliard is still under contract with the Steelers, so they had to give the Lions permission to talk with him about the position. Hilliard has never been a play-caller in the NFL and has always been a receivers coach. He's done a great job of developing the receivers in Pittsburgh and did a phenomenal job with the receivers in Washington as well.
The Steelers' coaching staff already has a good amount of turnover this year as they didn't renew the contracts of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley following the 2020 season. Longtime tight ends coach James Daniel also retired after the season.
Senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Teryl Austin interviewed with the Tennessee Titans this past Saturday for their vacant defensive coordinator position. There's been no word yet if Austin got the job. Quarterbacks coach Matt Canada also interviewed with the Dolphins for their offensive coordinator position, but there have also been reports that the Steelers are expected to promote Canada to the offensive coordinator position. Nothing official has happened yet though.
If Hilliard gets the job in Detroit, the Steelers would have to replace five assistant coaching positions on their staff this offseason, possibly more depending on what happens with Canada and Austin. The offensive coaching staff would look completely different with a new offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, wide receivers coach and possibly a new quarterbacks coach.
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