Reports: Lions asst. O-line coach heading to Raiders

Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin seems to have missed his opportunity for a promotion this offseason, but another assistant coach is moving onward and upward.

Bobby Johnson, the assistant offensive line coach in 2014, accepted a job as the tight ends coach for the Oakland Raiders, according to multiple reports.

Johnson has been with the Lions for two years and coached tight ends under Jim Schwartz in 2013. When the Lions fired Schwartz and hired Jim Caldwell, Johnson moved to the assistant offensive line position.

The Lions could promote Terry Heffernan to replace Johnson. Heffernan served as offensive quality control coach in 2014, but worked primarily with the line and was assistant offensive line coach in 2013.

Johnson started coaching in 1995 and worked primarily with tight ends and offensive linemen. He's been in the NFL since 2010, spending two years with the Buffalo Bills then a year with the Jacksonville Jaguars before coming to Detroit.

Caldwell has known Johnson since he was an offensive line coach at Indiana (2005-09) while Caldwell was coaching with the Indianapolis Colts. Now, he'll join Jack Del Rio's staff in Oakland.

Johnson is the first Lions coach to leave this offseason. Austin is a finalist for the head coaching job for Atlanta, but the Falcons are reportedly waiting until after the Super Bowl to hire Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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