The Lions seemingly want to interview Mike McDaniel for their OC job, but they are starting the process with other names. Jake Peetz and Tee Martin are on the NFC North team’s interview list.
Peetz, the Seahawks’ pass-game coordinator, received an interview request from the Lions, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. He will meet with the team. Additionally, veteran insider Jordan Schultz mentions Ravens QBs coach Tee Martin will meet about the job. Martin will interview for both the Lions and Commanders‘ OC positions next week, per Schultz.
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This marks another trip on the coordinator carousel for Peetz, a former Rams staffer who interviewed for the Buccaneers’ OC job in 2024. The Seahawks ended up hiring Peetz after the Bucs gave their play-calling gig to Liam Coen. Peetz has played a role in Sam Darnold‘s solid season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the NFL in receiving on his watch as well. Peetz, 40, was not with the Rams during Jared Goff‘s tenure. He coached under Sean McVay from 2022-23.
Still best known for leading Tennessee to the national championship as Peyton Manning‘s Volunteers successor in 1998, Martin has been an NFL staffer since 2021. He has only worked with the Ravens, who promoted him to QBs coach in 2023. Martin being in that role for back-to-back Lamar Jackson first-team All-Pro seasons certainly helps his case, though Baltimore is set to change coaching staffs for the first time since 2008 thanks to firing John Harbaugh. That leaves Martin in limbo.
This is not Martin’s first time on the OC carousel, however. The former Baltimore receivers coach met with the Bills in 2022 and Colts in 2023. Neither Peetz nor Martin (47) have called plays in the NFL. That will not be a prerequisite, per Lions GM Brad Holmes (via ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard). Morton had not called plays in the NFL in eight years, but Dan Campbell took over that responsibility in Week 10 of this season before firing the assistant.
The Commanders interviewed Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for their OC job Thursday. While John Morton struggled in Detroit, Martin will be interviewing to replace Kliff Kingsbury in Washington. The Commanders parted ways with their two-year OC due largely to disagreements between he and GM Adam Peters. Kingsbury, meanwhile, received an HC interview request from the Ravens.