UPDATE: Detroit Lions no longer expected to hire DL coach Giff Smith

UPDATE: According to Dave Birkett, Giff Smith is no longer expected to be hired as the Lions’ defensive line coach. No word on why the situation has changed yet.

The Detroit Lions coaching staff is starting to come together. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are expected to hired former Chargers defensive line coach Giff Smith.

Smith has been coaching defensive lines in the NFL since 2010. He first started with the Buffalo Bills from 2010 to 2012. When the Bills moved on from head coach Chan Gailey, Giff moved over to the Tennessee Titans for a couple years. After they moved on from Ken Whisenhunt, Giff again found another job, this time with the Chargers—a position he’s held for the past five seasons under two different head coaches.

In his career, he’s helped build the career of six-time Pro Bowl Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, and three-time Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III. The Chargers did regress in terms of their pass rush in 2020 (27 sacks, 25th in NFL), but much of that had to due with injuries to Bosa and Ingram.

Smith was also reportedly in contact with the Dallas Cowboys for a job this offseason.

Smith will replace former Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis, who was with the team until 2018. Davis is expected to take a job with the Texas Longhorns this year.

The Lions have already reportedly come to terms with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head up that side of the ball, but they have yet to make any decisions on the offensive coaching staff. They have already lost offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who is expected to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. Four candidates have emerged to replace Bevell: Ike Hilliard, James Urban, Anthony Lynn and Ken Dorsey.