The Detroit Lions experienced plenty of turnover this offseason among coach Dan Campbell's coach staff, with Detroit replacing both coordinators.
The Lions' new coaching staff will include several holdovers, including offensive line coach Hank Fraley, who played ten NFL seasons with Philadelphia, Cleveland, and St. Louis before transitioning to the coaching ranks.
On Thursday, a possible determining factor in the rising star Fraley's decision to return to Detroit was revealed by Lions reporter Nolan Bianchi, during which Lions star Penei Sewell's pitch to make him stay was revealed.
"How did #Lions OT Penei Sewell do his part to keep OL coach Hank Fraley in the building?" Bianchi mused on X Thursday.
Dan Skipper (left) speaks with Hank Fraley during the Lions' game at San Francisco in Dec. 2024.
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"I told him if he wasn't coming back, I'd retire," Sewell said according to the Detroit News Lions beat writer.
"This is equally parts terrifying and awesome," one fan wrote about Sewell's gamble to help keep the former NFL star in Motown.
Sewell was the starting right tackle on the 2024 NFL All-Pro team last season.
He formed a menacing offensive line that made due despite injuries to key cogs Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow and others.
The Lions went fishing for offensive line help this offseason and added second round guard Tate Ratledge to the group out of Georgia.
They also re-signed offensive guard Kayode Awosika, rounding out a group that new offensive coordinator John Morton hopes will dominate the same way it did in 2024, only with improved consistency and health for the Lions' expected late season and playoff contests.
