Notre Dame Football – Report: Lions Have Reached Out To Brian Kelly

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Nov 30, 2013; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly on the field against the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame Football

When Brian Kelly interviewed for the Eagles job and returned to Notre Dame last year, fans should have known that this was not the end of the courtship by the NFL but only the beginning.

According to a report by FootballScoop.com, the Detroit Lions have reached out to Penn State Head Coach Bill O’Brien, former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy and current Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly.

Current Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz has not been fired yet. However, it is likely that he will meet his demise on “Black Monday”, the term coined to refer to the Monday following the final regular season Sunday.

Kelly has been linked to the Lions job for awhile. In June, NBC’s ProFootballTalk said that if Jim Schwartz did not have a successful 2013 campaign, the Lion would pursue Kelly.

Brian Kelly also has links to Michigan. Kelly has coached in Michigan for several years. Kelly was an assistant at Grand Valley State for 4 years before becoming the Head Coach for 13 seasons. Kelly won two National Championships during his stint at GVSU. He also coached for 3 years at Central Michigan before becoming the Head Coach at Cincinnati. Not to mention that Notre Dame is just a “stones throw” away from Michigan.

Brian Kelly did sign a new contract with the Fighting Irish in August. Many believe that last year’s flirtation with the Philadelphia Eagles was essentially about getting what he wanted out of the deal from Notre Dame.

Kelly will most likely be the Head Football Coach at Notre Dame in 2014. Most coaches do not spurn their employer when they have just been given a new deal. It is not good business for the coach. However, if he continues to win games, this will continue to be a problem just like losing coordinators is. Has Brian Kelly decided that he is a just a college football coach or does want more? If that has been answered, Notre Dame fans have nothing to worry about.

Kelly has never coached nor played in the NFL. He has always been a college coach. He will probably always be a college coach.