Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin told reporters Thursday the 49ers have request permission to interview him for their head-coaching opening.
Austin, 49, was one of the top three minority candidates the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation planned to submit to NFL teams with head-coaching openings, chair John Wooten said recently.
The Lions play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in an NFC Wild-Card playoff game. The Atlanta Falcons have also requested permission to interview Austin, he said. Interviews with Austin can take place next week, regardless of whether the Lions’ season comes to an end.
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According to the NFL anti-tampering policy, assistant coaches of teams that play in the wild-card game and advance to the divisional round are allowed to interview after the wild-card games and prior to the conclusion of the divisional playoff games.
The 49ers have also requested permission to interview Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, whose team plays Saturday in the Wild-Card round against the Carolina Panthers.
The Lions’ defense under Austin ranks No. 2 overall in total yards behind the Seattle Seahawks and was third in the NFL in points allowed.
Austin is a first-year defensive coordinator, but he coached in Super Bowls with the Seahawks, Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens. He was the secondary coach on the Ravens team that defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
"For all of us, for him, I think and his family, I think he's deserving of it. and I think he's going to get one," Lions coach Jim Caldwell told Detroit reporters on Thursday. "I think if, once they get an opportunity to see him and listen to him and watch what he's been able to do, I think it'll happen for him and I think it'll be absolutely outstanding."
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The 49ers have conducted interviews with 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. They have interviews scheduled with Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, ex-New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and, reportedly, former Raiders, Broncos and Washington coach Mike Shanahan. In addition, 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula is considered a strong candidate. It’s not known if Tomula has taken part in a formal interview.
