Lions Reportedly Hire Mornhinweg
P O N T I A C, Mich., Jan. 24, 2001 -- Marty Mornhinweg, offensive coordinatorfor the San Francisco 49ers, was hired today to replace GaryMoeller as coach of the Detroit Lions, The Associated Press haslearned.
The team also fired Moeller today, said a source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Lions President Matt Millen had planned to interview BaltimoreRavens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis next week after the SuperBowl. He already had interviewed Moeller.
Mornhinweg interviewed with the Lions throughout the day Tuesdayand had been expected to interview with the Cleveland Browns today.
ESPN.com reported that Mornhinweg agreed in principle to afive-year deal worth about $5 million and the Lions are expected tointroduce him Thursday. (ESPN.com, like ABCNEWS.com, is owned by Disney.)
No Head Coaching Experience
The 38-year-old has spent the last four seasons as the 49ers'offensive coordinator after two years as an offensive assistant andquarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers.
Mornhinweg was Brett Favre's position coach during Green Bay's1996 Super Bowl season.
Mornhinweg has never been a head coach at any level, nor does hehave any coaching experience on defense.
This season, despite the retirement of Steve Young, Mornhinweg'soffensive scheme helped the 49ers set several team passing recordsand send quarterback Jeff Garcia, receiver Terrell Owens andrunning back Charlie Garner to their first Pro Bowls.
The former quarterback had a record-setting career at theUniversity of Montana. He played briefly in the Arena FootballLeague before suffering a career-ending knee injury.
He then spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach in the collegeranks before joining Green Bay.
"He has tremendous pedigree offensively going all the way backto his high school days when his coach was Mike Holmgren," LionsVice President Bill Keenist has said. "He's been around successfuloffensive philosophies throughout his career."
Millen at the Controls
Earlier this month, Millen, a former NFL standout and broadcastanalyst was given a five-year, $15 million contract to be thepresident and CEO, which gives him complete control over allfootball operations.
The Lions fired their offensive and defensive coordinators alongwith their receivers coach after being eliminated from the playoffswith a loss to Chicago at home in the regular-season finale.
Moeller took over in midseason for Bobby Ross, who resigned asDetroit's coach in the middle of last season. Moeller was given athree-year contract at that time.