PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 14: Tony Dungy speaks at a press conference introducing Michael Vick at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vick signed a one-year contract, with a second year option, with the Eagles. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 14: Tony Dungy speaks at a press conference introducing Michael Vick at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vick signed a one-year contract, with a second year option, with the Eagles. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Our @TonyDungy tells @dpshow that if he were to return, he would want the Lions job — not that he's planning on it. — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 3, 2014

It seems like anytime a serious NFL head coach search ensues, one of the hottest names belongs to Tony Dungy — who led the Indianapolis Colts to a victory in Super Bowl XLI.

And it looked on Friday like he — kind of — threw his hat in the ring for the Detroit Lions job during an interview.

“If you were coming back and I had all these openings…. That’s the job I would want, I think they are the closest to the Super Bowl,” he said. “You look for things, you look for a franchise quarterback in this day and age. You want to have a passing game, because this game is all about passing.

“And you want people who can rush the passer and protect the lead, Detroit’s got all that and now you throw in two really good tight ends, (a) couple of running backs that can make things happen.”

He went on to heap praise on both the team — and Bill Ford Jr.

“They’ve got everything they need, and the division 8 wins won the division this year, so you’re in the right division and you have an owner that doesn’t meddle, he’s not gonna come in and tell you to play this guy, cut this guy, draft this guy — It’s a perfect situation. If I was ever coming back it would be for that job.”

Dungy coached the Colts from 2002-2008, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2001. As a head coach he has a career record of 139-69.

Dungy installed his version of the cover 2 defense in Tampa with Monte Kiffin in which is now known as the Tampa 2. The season following Dungy’s departure in Tampa they won the Super Bowl under Jon Gruden who is also one of the former coaches that people would like to see coach the Lions.

Jim Caldwell, who replaced Dungy in Indy after he retired, is interviewing with the Lions today.

Even though in the tweet it mentions Dungy doesn’t plan on returning to coaching, it is intriguing to hear him mention “coaching” and “the Lions” together.

Dungy, from Jackson, Mich., was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame in 2013.