HANK FRALEY: THE PERFECT INTERNAL SOLUTION FOR DETROIT LIONS' OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Fraley has spent his entire playing career (10 years) and coaching career (13+ years) understanding this relationship.
While the Detroit Lions could chase big-name offensive coordinator candidates like Brian Daboll, the perfect solution to their play-calling crisis might already be in the building. Hank Fraley—the architect of the NFL’s most dominant offensive line and a coach who turned down the Seattle Seahawks to stay in Detroit—represents the safest, most seamless path forward for a Lions team in their Super Bowl window.
THE LOYALTY FACTOR: FRALEY CHOSE DETROIT OVER CAREER ADVANCEMENT
In January 2025, Hank Fraley faced a career-defining decision. The Seattle Seahawks, desperate for an offensive coordinator under new head coach Mike Macdonald, brought Fraley in for two separate interviews, including an in-person meeting that signaled serious interest. He was one of only three finalists for the position, and league insiders believed the “stars were aligning” for Seattle to land him.
But Fraley said no - In his own words: Fraley explained why he stayed:
“You guys get to walk in this building almost every day, and I do. There’s a lot of things, there’s a lot of outside football too. I’ve got four kids, got a third one about to go to college this year so that’s three college bills. And then we still have two younger ones. So family is a big part of it, but really the room. Coach Campbell’s a big part of it. Family, we’ve been here going on eight years. So that’s, for me personally, my kids before here the longest they’ve ever lived is four years. So Michigan, I would say, is home for them even though they’ll go anywhere, they’ve lived all over the country. But home right now is, for my wife and I, here in Michigan.”
Translation: Fraley isn’t just a coach collecting a paycheck. He’s all-in on what the Lions are building. He’s committed to Dan Campbell’s vision. He’s invested in this team, this city, and this culture. This is his home.
That kind of loyalty is rare in the NFL—and it’s exactly what the Lions need in an offensive coordinator.
THE ARCHITECT OF DOMINANCE: BUILDING THE NFL’S BEST OFFENSIVE LINE
Hank Fraley isn’t just the offensive line coach—he’s the architect of one of the most dominant offensive lines in the NFL. Under his guidance, the Lions’ offensive line has become the foundation of Detroit’s offensive success, enabling both an elite rushing attack and providing Jared Goff with clean pockets to operate one of the league’s most prolific passing attacks.
Player Development Under Fraley:
Penei Sewell: Transformed from college left tackle to All-Pro right tackle, now one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL
Frank Ragnow: Maintained All-Pro level performance at center despite numerous injuries, proving himself as the engine of this offense
Taylor Decker: Consistent Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle and elite pass protector
Graham Glasgow: Revitalized his career in Detroit, playing at a high level while bouncing from right guard to left guard to center
Kevin Zeitler: Maintained elite performance at age 34, a testament to Fraley’s coaching and ability to maximize veteran talent
The Most Impressive Achievement Is The Depth.
The offensive line has cycled through dozens of different starting combinations over the past five seasons due to injuries. In 2023 alone, the Lions used seven different offensive line combinations through just eight weeks—yet still maintained a 6-2 record and one of the most productive offenses in the NFL. Sitting at 6-3 halfway through 2025, and Fraley has done it again. This may be the biggest factor proving how elite Fraley’s coaching truly is at pulling the best out of his players.
The Numbers Don’t Lie:
Run blocking efficiency: Lions consistently rank among league leaders
Pass protection: Among the fewest sacks allowed, giving Goff time to operate
Physicality and toughness: The Lions’ offensive line embodies Campbell’s identity
Consistency: Week-in, week-out excellence from the entire unit
The Lions’ offensive line under Fraley has been the foundation of Detroit’s offensive success—enabling David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to dominate on the ground while protecting Jared Goff at an elite level.
SUPER BOWL PEDIGREE: CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
Fraley isn’t a coach who never played the game—he’s a former NFL starting center with elite championship experience:
Philadelphia Eagles (2000-2006):
Starting center for five seasons
Started in four consecutive NFC Championship Games (2002-2005)
Started in Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots
Played in Andy Reid’s physical, run-first offensive system
What This Experience Brings:
Championship mentality: Knows what it takes to win at the highest level
Offensive line expertise: Played the position at an elite level for a decade
Locker room credibility: Players respect coaches who’ve been in the trenches
Understanding of physicality: Played in a system similar to Campbell’s philosophy
EIGHT YEARS OF TRUST: DAN CAMPBELL CONNECTION
Hank Fraley has been with the Lions organization for eight years—longer than Dan Campbell himself. He was here before Campbell arrived, and he’s been a critical part of the culture transformation that’s turned Detroit into a championship contender.
The relationship between Fraley and Campbell is built on:
Mutual respect: Campbell trusts Fraley’s expertise and judgment
Shared philosophy: Both believe in physical, tough, run-first football
Proven collaboration: Eight years of working together successfully
Cultural alignment: Both are “all-in” on the Lions’ identity
Campbell’s own words about the play-calling change are telling:
“When you’re the head coach and you know how you want it to look, it’s one thing to kinda say how you want it to look, but it’s hard to crawl into my head. I just know I have a good feel of our players and I know what we’re capable of, I know what they’re capable of.”
Fraley can “crawl into Campbell’s head” better than any external candidate because he’s been implementing Campbell’s vision for years. He knows exactly what Campbell wants, how he thinks, and what makes this offense tick.
THE RUN GAME COORDINATOR PROMOTION
In 2025, the Lions promoted Fraley to Run Game Coordinator in addition to his offensive line coaching duties. This wasn’t a token title—it was organizational recognition of Fraley’s expertise in the ground game, which is the foundation of Dan Campbell’s offensive philosophy.
The Lions’ Run Game Under Fraley’s Offensive Line:
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs form one of the NFL’s most productive backfield duos the league has ever seen
Consistent 5+ yards per carry efficiency
Physical, downhill running style that wears down defenses
Zone, duo and gap scheme versatility
Campbell’s offensive identity is built on the run game—and Fraley is the architect of that success.
SEVEN REASONS WHY FRALEY IS THE BEST CHOICE
1. CONTINUITY IN A CHAMPIONSHIP WINDOW
The Lions are 9-1 and in their Super Bowl window. This is not the time to blow up what’s working. Fraley represents continuity—keeping the offensive foundation intact while addressing the play-calling issues that plagued John Morton’s start to the 2025 season, which centered on communication, offensive identity, and continuation of the game plan.
2. CAMPBELL’S VISION, FRALEY’S EXECUTION
Campbell has proven he can call plays effectively (546 yards, 44 points vs. Washington). But he can’t do it long-term while managing all head coaching responsibilities. Fraley can execute Campbell’s vision because he already knows it intimately after eight years together.
3. PLAYER TRUST AND RESPECT
The Lions’ locker room already trusts and respects Fraley. He’s been developing these players for years. There would be zero adjustment period for Jared Goff, the offensive line, or the skill position players.
4. ELITE UNDERSTANDING OF PROTECTION SCHEMES
Most offensive coordinators design plays and hope the offensive line can protect them. Fraley designs plays knowing exactly what the offensive line can and can’t do because he played the position at the highest level. He won’t call plays that put the offensive line in impossible situations. He’ll design protection schemes that account for defensive pressure, adjust play-calling based on what the offensive line can handle, and maximize the offensive line’s strengths—which he built himself.
5. THE CENTER’S ADVANTAGE: OFFENSIVE COHESION
The center is the communication hub of the offense. Everything flows through the center—protection calls, run blocking schemes, audibles, adjustments. Fraley’s expertise is in the run game, the foundation of Campbell’s offensive philosophy. Hiring Fraley ensures the Lions maintain their physical, run-first identity while adding creativity and innovation to the play-calling.
6. LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT
Fraley turned down the Seahawks to stay in Detroit. He’s all-in on what the Lions are building. That kind of loyalty and commitment is invaluable in a coordinator.
7. THE SEAMLESS TRANSITION
Unlike an external hire who would need time to learn the roster, build relationships, and understand the system, Fraley already has all of this in place. He brings eight years of relationships with the organization, deep knowledge of every offensive player’s strengths and weaknesses, complete understanding of the playbook and terminology, established trust with Jared Goff and the offensive unit, proven ability to develop talent at an elite level, and run game expertise that aligns perfectly with Campbell’s identity.
The transition would be immediate and seamless—no adjustment period, no growing pains, no philosophical conflicts.
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THREE POTENTIAL CONCERNS (AND WHY THEY DON’T MATTER)
1. LIMITED PLAY-CALLING EXPERIENCE
The Issue: Fraley has never been an offensive coordinator or primary play-caller at any level. Calling plays for an entire offense requires understanding passing concepts, managing game situations, and making real-time adjustments.
The Counterargument: Campbell would likely remain heavily involved in play-calling, making this less of a concern. Fraley would be executing Campbell’s vision, not creating his own system from scratch. Plus, his eight years of experience in the system gives him deep knowledge of what works.
2. NARROW EXPERTISE (OFFENSIVE LINE FOCUS)
The Issue: Fraley’s coaching experience is almost exclusively focused on offensive line play. He has limited experience with wide receiver development, tight end utilization, or quarterback coaching.
The Counterargument: The Lions have position coaches for these areas. Fraley’s role would be coordinating the offense and calling plays within Campbell’s system, not reinventing the wheel. His run game expertise is exactly what Campbell’s offense needs.
3. PASSING GAME SCHEME QUESTIONS
The Issue: While Fraley understands run blocking and protection schemes, his expertise in designing and calling passing concepts is unproven.
The Counterargument: Campbell’s play-calling success vs. Washington showed the offense can thrive with the right approach. Fraley would have Campbell’s input on passing concepts, and the Lions’ elite weapons (St. Brown, Williams, LaPorta) make the passing game easier to execute.
THE GOFF-FRALEY CONNECTION: WHY A FORMER CENTER IS THE PERFECT OC
Here’s something most people don’t understand about offensive football. The center is the only offensive lineman who sees the entire field the same way the quarterback does. And Hank Fraley wasn’t just any center—he was a 10-year vet and a five-year NFL starting center who played in four consecutive NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.
This gives Fraley a unique advantage that no other offensive coordinator candidate can match.
THE CENTER’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
Because Fraley played center for a decade, he sees the game through the quarterback’s eyes. When designing plays and calling plays, he understands:
Pre-Snap Reads: The center identifies defensive fronts, blitz packages, and coverage schemes before the snap—exactly what the quarterback does.
Protection Calls: The center makes all offensive line protection adjustments at the line of scrimmage based on what the defense shows.
Communication Hub: The center is the communication hub for the entire offensive line, relaying information and adjustments to all four other linemen.
Snap Timing: The center controls the snap count and timing, working in perfect sync with the quarterback.
Post-Snap Recognition: After the snap, the center must recognize stunts, twists, and blitzes in real-time—just like the quarterback must recognize coverage rotations.
In essence, the center is the quarterback of the offensive line. They see the game from the same perspective, make similar pre-snap reads, and must process information at the same speed. This is a massive advantage. Most offensive coordinators were skill position players (WR, RB, TE) or never played at all. They don’t have the same understanding of the quarterback-center relationship that Fraley has.
FRALEY SPEAKS GOFF’S LANGUAGE
The quarterback-center relationship is built on trust and communication. Fraley has spent his entire playing career (10 years) and coaching career (13+ years) understanding this relationship.
What this means for Goff: Fraley can explain concepts in terms Goff understands (from the quarterback’s perspective), knows what information Goff needs pre-snap to make the right decision, can design plays that account for what Goff sees and feels in the pocket, and understands the timing and rhythm that makes quarterbacks comfortable.
This isn’t theoretical—this is practical, real-world experience that translates directly to play-calling success. For example, if Fraley knows the right guard is struggling against a certain defensive technique, he can design plays that help that guard—chip blocks, quick passes, run plays away from that side. Most coordinators don’t have this level of understanding.
Jared Goff is playing at an All-Pro level right now. Part of that success was the relationship between Goff and center Frank Ragnow—one of the best quarterback-center duos in the NFL before Ragnow’s sudden retirement in 2025. Fraley had coached Ragnow for eight years. He understood how Ragnow communicated with Goff, what protection calls worked best for that duo, what timing and rhythm they had established, and what adjustments they made at the line of scrimmage.
Here’s Where Fraley’s Coaching Brilliance Truly Shines
When Ragnow retired, the Lions faced a critical transition at the most important position on the offensive line. Fraley seamlessly transitioned Graham Glasgow—a versatile lineman who had played both guard positions—into the center role. The fact that Goff has continued playing at an All-Pro level without missing a beat is a testament to Fraley’s ability to develop players and maintain offensive continuity.
Glasgow’s transition from guard to center under Fraley’s coaching has been nothing short of remarkable. Fraley has rebuilt the Goff-center relationship from the ground up, teaching Glasgow the nuances of communication, protection calls, and timing that made the Goff-Ragnow partnership so successful. The offensive line hasn’t skipped a beat for the most part-barring injury, and Goff’s comfort level in the pocket remains elite—proof that Fraley understands how to preserve and enhance the quarterback-center relationship regardless of personnel changes.
This continuity and adaptability are invaluable for a Lions team in their Super Bowl window. This is the ultimate proof of Fraley’s coaching excellence. He didn’t just maintain success with an All-Pro center—he rebuilt the entire quarterback-center dynamic and kept the offense operating at an elite level. That’s not luck. That’s elite coaching.
THE VERDICT
Hank Fraley represents the safest, most seamless path forward. His eight years with the organization, deep understanding of Campbell’s philosophy, proven success developing the offensive line, Super Bowl pedigree, loyalty to Detroit, and unique perspective as a former center who sees the game through a quarterback’s eyes make him the ideal internal candidate.
Detroit doesn’t need a “name” hire that brings risk and uncertainty. They need someone who can execute Dan Campbell’s vision, maintain Jared Goff’s success, and keep the offense creative and unpredictable while preserving the foundation that’s already been built.
Hank Fraley isn’t the flashy hire. He’s not the big name that will generate headlines. But he’s the right hire for a Lions team that doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel—they need someone who can execute the vision, maintain the foundation, and keep this championship window wide open.
Hank Fraley is the Lions’ offensive coordinator. He just doesn’t have the title yet.
WHAT FRALEY BRINGS DAY ONE:
✅ Eight years of relationships with the organization
✅ Deep knowledge of every offensive player’s strengths and weaknesses
✅ Complete understanding of the playbook and terminology
✅ Established trust with Jared Goff and the offensive unit
✅ Proven ability to develop talent at an elite level
✅ Run game expertise that aligns perfectly with Campbell’s identity
The transition would be immediate and seamless—no adjustment period, no growing pains, no philosophical conflicts.
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