This offseason, the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff was picked apart by other teams, but one critical coach opted to stay with the team despite opportunities elsewhere.

Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley interviewed several times for the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator job, but ultimately returned to Detroit—and got a nice little promotion along the way by adding run game coordinator to his title. That said, Fraley said the opportunity in Seattle was a good learning experience.

“I think everything you do in life, you’re always learning from something and trying to get better at it,” Fraley said last week. “It was a great opportunity to at least look at and learn from. You never want to take things for granted. I just want to be the best O-line coach I can be, to be honest. To be the best coach, it’s like being the best dad, the best husband. It was an honor for somebody to call and reach out, and it was a great experience.”

It’s unclear if Fraley was ever offered the job, but he made one thing extremely clear: returning to Detroit was no consolation prize for the 13-year coaching veteran.

“I’m very glad I’m back here because this is where I wanted to be with my family. We’ve got stuff special here, I’ve got a special room,” Fraley said.

The importance of Fraley to Detroit’s offensive line cannot be overstated. Not only has Detroit’s offensive line been their biggest strength during their franchise turnaround, but when the topic of Fraley potentially taking a job elsewhere came up, Lions All-Pro offensive linemen Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow both joked that they rely on Fraley so much that they would sabotage his efforts to leave.

“I haven’t played in this league without Hank and I don’t plan on doing it. I’ll sabotage him, I’ll leak stories, whatever it takes,” Ragnow joked.

“He’s just been one of those pillars for me in this organization,” Sewell said. “When I first came in, I fell in love with him, and we’ve got a history, too. He was recruiting me in high school when he was at UCLA. So, lotta history between us, and our relationship has grown. He’s like coach (Dan) Campbell in terms of a figure in my eyes. So, he’s not going nowhere.”

For Fraley, leaving Detroit would have been a tough decision. He’s been in Detroit for seven years now. He’s raised four children who call Detroit home. And there’s also something special to him about walking through those doors at the Lions’ Allen Park facility every day.

“Family is a big part of it, but really, the (offensive line) room,” Fraley said. “Coach Campbell is a big part of it. Family, we’ve been here going on eight years. For me, personally, you guys probably know a lot more than that, but my kids, before here, the longest they ever lived (in one place) was four years. Michigan, I would say, is home for them. Even though they’ll go anywhere. We’ve lived all over the country. But home right now, for my wife and I, is here in Michigan.”

Steve Burns—yes, the original host who helped a generation solve puzzles with a paw print—joins Jay at Motor City Comic Con for a heartfelt conversation. Steve reflects on his Blue’s Clues journey, the emotional fan response to his return, and his support for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a cause bringing happiness to seriously ill children.
It’s nostalgic, moving, and full of heart—don’t miss it.