After four seasons that include two playoff appearances, the Detroit Lions have decided that Jim Caldwell will not return to lead the Lions into 2018.
The decision comes after the season finale yesterday, where the Lions beat the Packers, to complete the franchise's first season sweep of Green Bay since the mid-90's.
Caldwell, who led the Lions to an 11-win season in his first year as their head coach back in 2014 before a brief dip to 7-9 in 2015, after an 0-5 start to the year. The Lions just narrowly missed the playoffs this season after their win over Green Bay yesterday improved the Lions to 9-7.
Overall, Caldwell was 36-28 leading the franchise with two playoff appearances - both first round exits in the NFC Wild-Card game.
Prior to leading the Lions, Caldwell coached the quarterbacks before being promoted to offensive coordinator with the Ravens from 2012-13. Before that, he led the Indianapolis Colts to a 14-2 mark in 2009 (where they lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV), a 10-6 record in 2010, before being dismissed after a 2-14 2011 season.
Before joining the NFL ranks in 2001, Caldwell was a longtime college coach with stops at Iowa, Southern Illinois, Northwestern, Colorado, Louisville, and Penn State before landing his first head coaching job at Wake Forest in 1993. There, he led the Demon Deacons for eight seasons, with one bowl appearance - the Aloha Bowl in 1999. At Wake Forest, Caldwell went 26-63, with just one winning season, never finishing higher than 5th in the ACC.
Reports from early yesterday state that the Lions could be interested in Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who could opt to keep the offensive staff largely intact.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest developments.