In 2015, Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions were struggling to score points under the playcalling of then offensive coordinator, Joe Lombardi. After dropping a game to the Minnesota Vikings to drop to 1-6 on the season, Lombardi was fired and Jim Bob Cooter, who is the current OC, was promoted.
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Ever since the promotion, the Lions have started winning football games, including winning six of their final nine games in 2015. Sure, the offense has had ups and downs along the way (including in the red zone this season), but Cooter has done a fine job overall.
Now there are rumblings of Cooter potentially becoming the next head coach of the University of Tennessee, who recently fired Butch Jones after a 50-17 loss to Missouri. Cooter, who is 33, was a backup quarterback for the Volunteers from 2007-2008, hence the speculation.
On Thursday, he was asked by reporters about whether or not he was interested in heading back to his alma mater, this time as the head coach.
Cooter’s response was extremely predictable.
From the Detroit Free Press:
“I’m locked and loaded on the Chicago Bears,” Cooter said.
Asked if he’d consider college head coaching opportunities after the season, Cooter repeated, “I’m focused on the Chicago Bears.”
To be honest, we are not sure about what kind of answer the reporters thought they were going to get out of Cooter, but one thing is for sure.
If Jim Bob Cooter is secretly interested in becoming the head coach at Tennessee, he is not about to spill the beans to the media. Not while his current team is focused on making a run at the NFL Playoffs.
