The Detroit Lions' search for a new offensive coordinator is underway, and it looks like one potential candidate already has an incentive to stay in Detroit, whether he gets the job or not.
First-Team FCS All-American center Trent Fraley, the son of offensive line coach and run game coordinator Hank Fraley, has committed to transferring to Michigan State.
Fraley is a junior from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State and was just named the Rimington Award winner as the FCS's top center. Fraley previously spent two seasons at the FBS level at Marshall before transferring to North Dakota State.
Trent Fraley started every game at North Dakota State, helping the Bison to a FCS National Championship in 2024. Now, he joins new Spartans head coach Pat Fitzgerald in rebuilding Michigan State in a newly dominant Big Ten conference.
The transfer brings Trent Fraley closer to his father's stomping grounds in Michigan, although the motive for transferring to Michigan State could be unrelated. Trent Fraley is originally from Moon Township, Pennsylvania, and attended Moon Area High School. Moon Township is notably where Robert Morris University is located, the alma mater of Hank Fraley.
Hank Fraley has a future as an OC - in Detroit or elsewhere
Hank Fraley has been with the Lions' organization since 2018, when he joined as an assistant offensive line coach. He was promoted to offensive line coach in 2020, and in the years since, Fraley has built a reputation as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league.
Although the Lions' OL play this season didn't do him any favors, he still remains a name to watch as teams, including the Lions, interview OC candidates.
Not much is known about the Lions' OC search as it stands now. The team eying an interview with former Lions quarterback and current Washington Commanders assistant QB coach, David Blough, may signal the team will once again prioritize familiarity with the system. That would give Fraley an edge over most external candidates and would likely make him the favorite among potential internal hires.
It isn't just the Lions who are familiar with Hank Fraley. Current New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn recently served as the Lions' defensive coordinator and could be in the market for a new OC this offseason.
And while he didn't call plays, Chicago Bears OC Declan Doyle is considered a future head coach. If current Bears head coach and former Lions OC, Ben Johnson, has a sudden opening at OC, Fraley would be a prime candidate to replace him. Not to mention numerous other teams that had previously interviewed him for their OC openings that could have an opening again.
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That's why Trent Fraley transferring to Michigan State is notable from a Lions' perspective. While it's unclear whether or not Trent Fraley being closer to his father has an impact on his father's career aspirations, it could make staying in Michigan for the time being more appealing.
Of course, Fraley could bolt the Lions for a role on Michigan State's coaching staff, but the Spartans have already hired Nick Sheridan as their OC and Nick Tabacca as their offensive line coach, which makes such a move highly unlikely.
It's also worth noting that the Lions don't have a long-term solution at the center position sorted out, possibly opening the door for the team to give the young Fraley an NFL opportunity if and when he decides to go pro. That could keep the elder Fraley in Detroit beyond his son's remaining time at Michigan State.
The chance to coach his son could also be a way for another NFL team to lure Hank Fraley away from Detroit by drafting or signing Trent Fraley before the Lions can.
The offseason has only just begun for the Lions, and the future of the coaching staff is still murky. This latest news in the college ranks may at least bring clarity to Hank Fraley's future with the team, giving head coach Dan Campbell one less headache in the months and possibly years ahead.