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Initially reported as "interest", Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese was being mentioned as a possible candidate in Detroit for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to reports. Not only is there interest, the interview had already happened.
To follow up on what @caplannfl tweeted earlier today, the Lions interviewed Bengals QB coach Ken Zampese for their OC job today.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 21, 2014
However, according to ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi, the grandson of Vince Lombardi, is taking the job.
Saints QB coach Joe Lombardi, the grandson of Vince Lombardi, will be hired as Lions new offensive coordinator. per league sources
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 21, 2014
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew, both in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, declined comment.
Caldwell said the team is willing to be patient to ensure it makes the right hire.
"We're taking our time and we're just not going to be in a real big hurry," Caldwell said.
Zampese has been with the Bengals since '03 as the team's quarterbacks coach, specifically coaching Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton -- two of the franchise's more successful passers (though obviously not for their postseason prowess).
This isn't the first time that his name has been appeared as a possible candidate for an offensive coordinator position.
The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers interviewed Zampese in 2010 and 2009 respectively for their offensive coordinator vacancies. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who was hired as their head coach in 2009, had planned to hire Zampese as his offensive coordinator if Brian Schottenheimer didn't stay -- which he did. He was also an in-house candidate in 2011 when the team fired Bob Bratkowski -- they hired Jay Gruden instead.