Son of Lions coach commits to Michigan State, which could signal Detroit keeps a crucial coach

The Spartans get an award winning center and the Lions likely get to keep their coach

Mike Payton Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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The Detroit Lions have some uncertainty on their coaching staff right now. The Lions fired John Morton earlier this week, and now the search for a new offensive coordinator is happening. Anytime that happens, there’s a chance for change at the positional coaches’ level.

While the Lions’ decision to move on from Hank Fraley doesn’t make much sense, it makes even less sense now.

Hank Fraley’s son, Trent Fraley, has committed to playing center at Michigan State

Fraley is transferring from the FCS, where he played for North Dakota State and was awarded the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country. So this is a pretty good get for Michigan State. He’s allowed just one sack in his four years in college football.

His dad, Hank, has been with the Lions since 2018 as an offensive line coach. In the last two off-seasons, he’s had multiple interviews for the offensive coordinator job with the Seattle Seahawks, and there was a lot of rumored interest in Ben Johnson wanting Fraley to be his offensive coordinator when he left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Before that could move any further, the Lions gave Fraley a raise and a promotion, adding run-game coordinator to his title.

With his son transferring into the state to play college football, that could be a pretty good sign that there is some job stability for Fraley with the Lions and that he plans to stay. Nothing is set in stone on this, but keep an eye on it.