After conducting their first wave of interviews for their open general manager job with three in-house candidates last week, the Detroit Lions are lining up their next round of candidates now.
One experienced hand who will be on their list: Former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith.
Smith is expected to interview with the Lions before Christmas, likely next week, a person familiar with the Lions' plans told the Free Press, and is eligible to be hired immediately as he is not currently employed by a team.
Smith spent more than 20 years as a coach and front office executive with two different teams before stepping away from football to help care for his sick wife, a breast cancer survivor, after the 2017 season.