Randy Edsall landed on his feet.

In fact, the former Maryland coach is moving up to the NFL ranks.

The Detroit Lions announced on Sunday that Edsall will be the team’s new director of football research and special projects. It’ll be a new position created by Lions general manager Bob Quinn, who has known Edsall since the 1990s.

Before Edsall went to Maryland, he coached at UConn from 1999-2010. That’s where he worked with Quinn, who was a grad assistant at the time. Edsall got Quinn his first internship with the New England Patriots, and 16 years later, the favor was returned.

It will mark Edsall’s second NFL job. He was part of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars staff as a defensive backs coach from 1994-97.

Edsall was fired by Maryland in the midst of a a three-win season. Mike Locksley took over his position as the interim head coach, and the team hired Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin at season’s end.

Edsall had a 96-103 record in his five seasons in College Park.