DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions hope to hire Steve Mariucci as their next coach by Tuesday after trying to reach a deal for the past six days.

"While there was significant progress made during those discussions, no deal has yet been finalized that would make Steve our next head coach,'' Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said Monday night. "We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Steve by the end of the day tomorrow.''

Mariucci, who was born and raised in Iron Mountain, Mich., was fired by San Francisco on Jan. 15 after compiling a 60-43 record with four playoff appearances over six seasons.

Mariucci's agent, Gary O'Hagan, said Monday night that negotiations were moving forward with the Lions.

"It's progressing positively,'' said O'Hagan, who declined to elaborate.

Marty Mornhinweg was fired by Detroit on Jan. 27, a month after the Lions finished 3-13. Mornhinweg, an offensive coordinator under Mariucci with the 49ers, went 5-27 in two seasons -- the worst two-year stretch in team history.

Mariucci was 17 games over .500 in San Francisco despite taking over during a rebuilding period. He went 3-4 in the postseason.

Since winning the 1957 NFL title, the Lions have only one playoff victory -- they beat Dallas in January 1992 before losing to Washington in the NFC championship game.

But Mariucci clashed with 49ers owner John York, and was dismissed three days after a 31-6 loss at Tampa Bay in the playoffs. Mariucci had one year left on his contract.

San Francisco went 10-6 last season and won the NFC West before making the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history to beat the New York Giants 39-38 in the first round.

Mariucci repeatedly said he wanted to keep his family in the San Francisco Bay area, and he would be willing to take a minimal raise or even coach the final year of his contract without an extension.

If he becomes Detroit's coach, he will work about 90 miles away from his best friend, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo. Mariucci and Izzo grew up together in Iron Mountain, which is in the state's Upper Peninsula, and attended Northern Michigan.

Mariucci has been Detroit's leading candidate since the Lions fired Mornhinweg last week. He met with team officials last Wednesday night and Thursday, and is the only coach to have an in-person interview with the Lions.

Detroit chief executive Matt Millen has never publicly named any other candidate for the job, but said the Lions would do their best to comply with the NFL's policy of interviewing at least one minority candidate.

O'Hagan, who also represents former Minnesota coach Dennis Green, refused to comment on numerous reports that Green refused to interview with the Lions because they appeared to have their sights set only on Mariucci.

O'Hagan has said Mariucci's ties to Michigan have played a part in his interest in the Lions after he initially said he would take next year off from coaching. Mariucci did not want to be considered in January for the opening in Jacksonville.

"Every day he moves beyond what happened in San Francisco and feels better about things,'' O'Hagan said. "Certainly in any endeavor, it's important to feel needed and wanted.''