Report: Broncos to interview Lions DC Teryl Austin
The Denver Broncos are set to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Friday, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Austin interviewed with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday and is reportedly likely to interview with the Atlanta Falcons for a second time on Wednesday. He will interview with Denver "assuming he makes it back from Atlanta," according to Rapoport.
The Broncos mutually parted ways with head coach John Fox on Monday, one day after they were eliminated from the playoffs.
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Austin, 49, has spent one year as Detroit's defensive coordinator. In that time, he has coached the Lions' defense to second overall, third in scoring and to the top of the league in rush defense, as well as second in the league in yards allowed per game (300.9).
The defense recorded 42 sacks, 20 interceptions and a +7 turnover differential throughout the season and held DeMarco Murray, the league's leading rusher in the regular season, to 75 yards on 19 carries in Detroit's wild-card loss. The team finished the year with an 11-5 record, after going 7-9 and 4-12 the previous two years.
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Prior to joining the Lions, Austin helped the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens earn Super Bowl appearances as a defensive backs coach. With the Ravens, he won the Super Bowl in 2012.
Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell has called Austin "absolutely outstanding" and advised his assistant on the interview process, saying that he is "deserving" of a head coach position.
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