After his current team’s postseason elimination this past weekend, Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley remains a strong contender for the Seattle Seahawks’ open offensive coordinator role.
Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that the Seahawks will meet with Fraley for a second in-person interview on Tuesday. Fraley joins Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Vikings assistant quarterback coach Grant Udinski as the third candidate to be interviewed a second time after their initial virtual interview on January 10.
While Fraley has never called plays at any level, he may be a perfect fit for the position, given coach Mike Macdonald’s desire for a “physical, complementary” offense following the firing of former coordinator Ryan Grubb. A rising star on Dan Campbell’s talented staff in Detroit, Fraley, a former 11-year NFL veteran, has been crucial in developing one of the league’s top offensive lines, anchored by former top-10 pick Penei Sewell and All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, helping the Lions win consecutive NFC North titles.
Fraley’s coaching career began with a three-year stint as an assistant offensive line coach for the Vikings from 2014 to 2016. After a year at UCLA, he returned to the NFL in 2018 as the Lions’ assistant offensive line coach. When Campbell took over as head coach in 2021, he kept Fraley, a holdover from the previous staff, due to positive player feedback, and that decision paid off significantly for the team.
Under Fraley’s guidance, the Lions’ offensive line played a key role in the team’s improvement in 2022, helping them narrowly miss the playoffs while also assisting the Seahawks in securing the final wild card spot in Week 18. Fraley’s line allowed just 24 sacks, the second-fewest in the NFL, and posted an impressive 3.9 percent sack rate for the season.
This success set the stage for a dominant 2023 campaign, with the Lions finishing fourth in sack percentage (4.8 percent) and racking up 2,311 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, all while Fraley’s offensive line helped propel the team to its first NFC Championship game appearance since 1991.
Although the Lions fell short in the Divisional Round after a 15-2 regular season, their historic achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed. Fraley’s line finished 10th in quarterback sack rate (5.7 percent), sixth in rushing yards (2,488), and second in rushing touchdowns (29).
Seattle, looking for the balanced, physical offense that Macdonald envisions, sees Fraley as a top candidate to replace Grubb, who lasted just one season. His impressive track record of building strong offensive lines would be a significant asset to a team that has struggled in the trenches for years.
It will be interesting to see whether the Seahawks make a quick decision after Tuesday’s meeting. The Lions may try to retain Fraley as a potential replacement for Ben Johnson, who was hired as the Bears’ head coach on Monday. Additionally, Johnson might consider bringing Fraley with him, or defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn could seek to hire him if he secures the head coaching job with the Jets or Saints, which could create urgency for Seattle to make their decision.
