Joe Marciano accepts Detroit Lions' special teams coordinator job

Joe Marciano has accepted the Detroit Lions’ special teams coordinator job, according to a source.

Joe Marciano has accepted the Detroit Lions’ special teams coordinator job, according to a source.

The move reunites Marciano with Lions coach Jim Caldwell. Marciano was special teams coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001 when Caldwell was the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Marciano, 60, was the Minnesota Vikings’ interim special teams coordinator for the first four games of this past season. He replaces John Bonamego, who left to be head coach at Central Michigan.

Marciano was the Houston Texans’ special teams coordinator from 2002-13 and held the same position six years before with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was an assistant for the New Orleans Saints from 1986 through 1995, overseeing special teams and tight ends until he dropped the latter responsibility his last season.

He also coached special teams for the USFL’s Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars from 1983-85. His college stops included special teams and tight ends coach at his alma mater, Temple (1982), tight ends coach at Penn State (1981) and wide receivers coach at Villanova (1980).

Marciano was also wide receivers coach at Rhode Island (1978-79), tight ends coach at East Stroudsburg State (1977) and an assistant at Wyoming Area High School in Exeter, Pa. He was a quarterback at Temple from 1972-75.

The Lions had an 11-5 record this past season and made the playoffs in Caldwell’s inaugural campaign.