Add another name -- and another multiple-time Executive of the Year -- to the Lions' list of candidates for general manager: Scott Pioli.
Pioli, who last served as assistant GM for the Falcons from 2014-19, will interview with Detroit next week, according to Adam Schefter.
In Atlanta Pioli worked under former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, who's also slated to interview with the Lions next week.
Pioli made his name with the Patriots. He became the youngest winner of the NFL's Executive of the Year Award as New England's VP of Player Personnel at the age of 38. That was in 2003. Pioli won it again the next year, following the team's second straight 14-2 season and second straight Super Bowl title.
He's one of only three execs to win the award in consecutive years. ESPN named him Personnel Man of the Decade for the 2000's, writing, "No one in the league does a better job of scouting their own team, and Pioli was orchestrating all of that (in New England.)"
Pioli, 55, served as general manger of the Chiefs from 2009-12 and was named Executive of the Year yet again when he improved Kansas City from 4-12 to 10-6 in 2010. He was fired by the Chiefs two years later after the team bottomed out at 2-14.
In addition to Piolo and Dimitroff, the Lions are set to interview former Texans GM Rick Smith and former Washington and Eagles exec and longtime TV analyst Louis Riddick next week. They interviewed three in-house candidates last week.
