Report: Saints assistant Campbell leading candidate to be Lions HC

New Orleans Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell has emerged as the favorite to be the new head coach of the Detroit Lions, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

An in-person interview can't be conducted until the Saints' season has concluded.

The 44-year-old is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks, and he's among Saints head coach Sean Payton's most trusted assistants.

Campbell played in the NFL for 11 years, spending his final three seasons with the Lions. In 2010, Campbell was working as an intern for the Miami Dolphins and was promoted to tight ends coach the following season. He briefly served as the interim head coach after Miami fired Joe Philbin, leading the team to a 5-7 record. Campbell has been with New Orleans since 2016.

Detroit is looking for a successor along the sidelines after the team fired Matt Patricia this past season. The former New England Patriots defensive coordinator put together a 13-29 record before being relieved of his duties.

Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was scheduled to interview for the Lions' head coaching role, but the two sides decided to cancel, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

The Lions recently hired Brad Holmes from the Los Angeles Rams to be the franchise's new general manager.