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Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has earned an interview with the Denver Broncos.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Teryl Austin continues to be the cool kid at the lunch table.

Everyone wants to talk to him.

According to ESPN, that list now includes the Denver Broncos, who requested to interview the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator after parting ways this week with John Fox.

Austin also has interviewed (or will interview) with the Falcons, Bills, 49ers and Bears. That's five of the seven teams searching for head coaches this offseason, making Austin one of the league's hottest coaching candidates.

Not bad for a guy who has only one year of coordinating experience, and who has never been a head coach. But he made the most of that lone opportunity, turning a mid-tier Lions defense into the league's No. 2 unit with largely the same personnel.

"Teryl's done a phenomenal job, as you guys know," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said last week. "I mean, for us to be No. 1 in rushing defense, and I think we're No. 3 in scoring defense this year, he did a phenomenal job with the group. And I think he has a lot of ability.

"I think he's certainly capable of being a head coach in the NFL. I think I said that when he got here that at some point he'd have an opportunity to do that. He's certainly worthy of the opportunity."

The Bills already have filled their opening with Rex Ryan, which leaves the Falcons, 49ers, Bears and Broncos as possibly landing spots for Austin.

His best odds right now appear to be in Atlanta, where he's already earned a second interview. He's believed to be among a small group of finalists that includes Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and possibly Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

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