Caleb Czarnik

Statement from the Detroit Lions:

The day has finally come Lions fans, Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn have been fired. After four years of mediocrity from Quinn and two and a half seasons of disappointment from Patricia, the Lions finally decide to cut ties with the GM and Head Coach. These firings were expected after another wasted season, as the Lions are 4-7 after week 11. The embarrassing 41-25 loss to the Texans on Thanksgiving was the last we will see from Patricia on the sidelines for Detroit.

Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell has been named the interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season. In a season where the Lions have no playoff aspirations, the expectations for Bevell aren’t too high. The best case-scenario for Lions may be to lose out, and look towards the future with a good draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Matt Patricia’s Time in Detroit

Patricia was hired as the Head Coach in February of 2018. It seemed to be a pretty good signing by Bob Quinn at the time. Patricia was a three time Super Bowl Champion during his time as a Defensive Coordinator under Bill Belichick in New England.

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia looks on during their preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, August 30, 2018. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

In Patricia’s two and a half seasons with the Lions, he accumulated an abysmal 13-29-1 record. The past two seasons, his defenses have been bottom five in the league. Who would’ve thought a former Defensive Coordinator would be responsible for some of the worst defenses in the NFL as a Head Coach. The Offense hasn’t been much better, either. Despite having some great talent on the offensive side of the ball, they have been ranked 25th, 18th, and and 22nd in points throughout his three seasons.

It will be difficult for Patricia to find himself on another NFL staff in the near future. His tenure with the Lions does not look good on his resume. He has been another example that being under Belichick’s wing at one point doesn’t ensure success as a Head Coach.

Bob Quinn’s Time in Detroit

Like Patricia, Bob Quinn was a part of the Patriot’s organization before being hired by Detroit. Since his hiring in 2016, he really didn’t do anything special. He only drafted one Pro-Bowler in Kenny Golladay in his four years as GM. The poor selections in Jarrod Davis, Teez Tabor and Jahlani Tavai will always be held against Quinn.

The Lions have been known for half of their free agent signings being former Patriots. It seemed as if Quinn thought their team would have the success of New England if he were to sign ex-Patriots after their prime. His biggest splash in free agency was DE Trey Flowers, when he signed him to a 5yr, 90 million dollar deal in 2019. Flowers only has 9 total sacks in his 23 games with the Lions. Flowers wasn’t the only questionable signing he made, though. Quinn signed TE Jesse James and CB Justin Coleman to big deals in 2019. These two have a combined 115.1 PFF grade during their time in Detroit. He was also responsible for the hiring of Matt Patricia, and obviously that didn’t pan out.

Quinn was ranked the worst GM in the NFL by analysts, so his firing didn’t come as much of a surprise to Lions fans.

Potential Replacements for Matt Patricia

Lions Special Teams Coordinator Bayden Coombs

Coombs has been the leader of the only bright spot for the Lions, special teams. Despite being only 34 years old, he should be considered as a legitimate candidate to take over the Lions. Special Teams Coordinator to Head Coach is rare, but coaches like John Harbaugh and Mike Ditka have made the transition and gone on to win Super Bowls.

Panthers Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady

Joe Brady was responsible for LSU’s historic offense in 2019. He transitioned well to the NFL, as he is calling the shots for Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s career season. Bridgewater is completing a career high 72.1 percent of his passes, and averaging 255 YPG. Brady could potentially help Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense get over the hump.

Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy

This one is a stretch. Bieniemy has been the mastermind behind Patrick Mahomes’ and the Chiefs success. The Lions will most likely make an attempt to hire him, but I think he is fine with where he is at in Kansas City under Andy Reid.

Iowa State Head Coach Matt Cambell

Matt Cambell is probably the most likely College coach to find an NFL job. It has been rumored that he may take over at Michigan, as this may be Harbaugh’s last year there. Detroit should entertain the idea before Michigan pounces on him. in Cambell’s time with Iowa State as their coach, he has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year twice, and made Iowa State a relevant program.

Coastal Carolina Head Coach Jamey Chadwell

Chadwell has lead Coastal Carolina to a 9-0 record so far in the 2020 season. It will be difficult to get him out of the FCS, but the Lions should make a push for him. Chadwell is a two-time FCS Coach of the Year finalist, and a three-time Big South Coach of the Year winner.

The firing of Quinn and Patricia was a great start for the organization. The next step is finding the right guys to replace them, someone that will end the losing culture in Detroit.