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Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin already has two head coaching interviews lined up, could get another and Jim Caldwell expects him to land one of the jobs.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- With the Detroit Lions' season now over, Teryl Austin has begun scheduling interviews for head coaching vacancies.

He's expected to be one of the hottest names of the offseason, and already has been linked to the openings in Atlanta, San Francisco and Buffalo.

Austin will interview with the Falcons on Wednesday and the 49ers on Thursday, according to CBSSports.

The defensive coordinator is highly regarded in NFL circles, and bolstered his stock this season by turning the Lions into the league's second-best defense. They were 16th with essentially the same personnel last year.

Coach Jim Caldwell has said he expects Austin to land a head coaching gig this year.

"I think he's deserving of it, and I think he's going to get one," Caldwell said recently. "I think once they get an opportunity to see him and listen to him and watch what he's been able to do, I think it will happen for him.

"I think that will be absolutely outstanding because I do think that I love ambitious people that are looking to try to improve their lot in life and their career."

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