Agent: Detroit Conducted Sham Interview with Teryl Austin in 2018

Similar to what former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is alleging the New York Giants did to him, the agent of Steelers defensive assistant Teryl Austin is claiming the Lions conducted a sham interview with his client in 2018.

Agent Eric Metz alleges Detroit had already decided on hiring former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as their next head coach, but still interviewed Austin to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

“(Former Lions general manager) Bob Quinn knew he was hiring Matt Patricia and used Teryl to comply with the Rooney Rule,” Metz told the Associated Press. “Didn’t work out well for the Lions. Never should’ve fired Jim Caldwell.”

A veteran of eleven head coaching interviews, Austin says he has become adept at deciphering whether an opportunity is legitimate or not.

“I can tell when one was just an (expletive) interview and I could tell when I was really in it,” Austin told the Associated Press. “And so to me, that’s kind of worth it.”

Austin has served two previous stints as a defensive coordinator with Detroit and Cincinnati. He spent four years with the Lions before joining the Bengals for a one year stint in 2018. Austin has been a senior defensive assistant and secondary coach with Pittsburgh since 2019.