2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

Teryl Austin joined the Detroit Lions as the
team’s defensive coordinator in 2014 after spending
the previous three seasons as the Baltimore Ravens
defensive backs coach. In his first season at the
helm of the Lions’ defense, Austin led one of the
NFL’s most dominant units as Detroit finished the
season ranked No. 2 in total defense (300.9 yards
per game) and No. 1 in rushing defense (69.3 yards
per game).
A former safety at the University of Pittsburgh,
Austin brings 24 years of defensive coaching
experience to the Lions’ staff, specifically with a
special talent for developing and teaching defensive
backs. He spent 10 seasons as a defensive backs
coach in the NFL, including stints with the Seattle
Seahawks (2003-06), Arizona Cardinals (2007-09)
and most recently with the Ravens (2011-13). In
each of those three stops, he helped his teams
pave the way to Super Bowl appearances (Seattle
in 2005, Arizona in 2008 and Baltimore in 2012). In
2012, he helped guide the Ravens to a win in Super
Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
‣ ¾ The Lions’ No. 2 ranking in total defense to finish
the 2014 season is the highest since 1970 when
the team also ranked second (246.3 yards per
game). 300.9 yards allowed per game is also
the lowest total yielded by the Lions since 1993
(291.8), as well as the fourth-lowest yards allowed
per game total during a 16-game season
(since 1978).
‣ ¾ By holding the Bears to just 14 points in the
Lions’ win at Chicago (12/21), Detroit limited
opponents to 17 points or less in 11 games in
2014. The Lions’ 11 games of allowing 17 points
or less are the second-most accumulated in a
season by Detroit in team history. The team
record is 12 in 1934.
‣ ¾ Detroit finished the season yielding 1,109 rushing
yards, and became the ninth team in NFL
history to finish the season allowing less than
70 rushing yards per game. In 16 games, the
Lions allowed 69.3 rushing yards per game and
finished with the ninth-best opponent rushing
yards allowed per game average in NFL history.
‣ ¾ The 69.3 rushing yards allowed per game by the
Lions in 2014 also set a franchise record, breaking
the previous mark set in 1970 (82.3 yds/g).
‣ ¾ 2014 marked the first time the Lions finished
in the Top-2 in total defense since 1970 and
first since the NFL started playing a 16-game
schedule in 1978.
‣ ¾ With an interception against the Chicago Bears
(12/21), the Lions concluded their streak with an
interception at 12-straight games. The streak
was the longest by the Lions in a single season
since 1981 (13), and the 1981 season was also
the last time the Lions intercepted a pass in
10+-straight games.
‣ ¾ Detroit set a new franchise record in the team’s
DETROIT LIONS
TERYL AUSTIN
DEFENSIVE
COORDINATOR
Years with Lions: 2
Years in NFL: 12
playoff game at Dallas (1/4/15) as the team
registered six sacks (51 yards lost) against
the Cowboys. The Lions’ six sacks surpassed
the previous high of four sacks garnered at
Cleveland December 28, 1952. The team’s six
sacks doubled the highest previous total (3 vs.
Dallas 1/5/92) since sacks became an official
statistic in 1982.
‣ ¾ S Glover Quin, with seven interceptions on the
year, became the first Lions player to lead the
NFL in interceptions since Hall of Fame CB Lem
Barney in 1967 when he registered 10 during
his exceptional rookie campaign. Quin is the
first Lions defensive player to finish the season
with sole possession of first place among league
leaders in interceptions since Hall of Fame DB
Jack Christensen in 1953.
ADDITIONAL COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
‣ ¾ Coached the Baltimore Ravens secondary from
2011-13. During that span, the Ravens ranked
first in the NFL in pass defenses with 298. In his
three seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens defense
ranked in the Top-10 in Red Zone defense, including
a League-leading opponent touchdown
percentage of 38.1 in 2011.
‣ ¾ As defensive coordinator at the University of
Florida in 2010, the Gators recorded 22 interceptions,
the fourth-most in the nation that season.
The Florida defensive backfield also returned
four of those picks for touchdowns.
‣ ¾ Mentored three Cardinals defensive backs to
the Pro Bowl as Arizona’s defensive backs
coach in 2009, including CB Dominique Rodgers-
Cromartie, S Antrel Rolle and S Adrian Wilson.
His Cardinals secondary also led the League in
interception-touchdowns (six) in 2007.
‣ ¾ In his first NFL coaching stint, Austin’s defensive
backfield in Seattle ranked 10th in the NFL
in interceptions with 67 over his four seasons
(2003-06).
‣ ¾ Spent time as defensive backs coach at Michigan
(1999-2002), Syracuse (1996-98) and Wake
Forest (1993-95). He also served as a graduate
assistant at Penn State from 1991-92.
Austin joined the Baltimore Ravens staff in
2011and quickly developed the team’s secondary
into an integral part of one of the NFL’s most
consistent and feared defenses in recent years.
In 2012, Austin helped guide the Ravens defense
to six interceptions in the postseason en route to
the team’s Super Bowl XLVII championship run.
Over his three seasons in Baltimore (2011-13),
the Ravens also ranked first in the NFL in pass
defenses with 298.
Austin’s history of progressing NFL talent
both young and experienced is well-documented.
In 2013, Austin’s starting CBs Lardarius Webb
(second) and Jimmy Smith (14th) both finished in
the Top-15 in the NFL in pass defenses with 22 and
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING