We’ve been hearing for several weeks that the Lions are set to make Matt Patricia their next head coach, and a report tonight from Albert Breer backs this sentiment. Breer tweets that the Lions have been informing other candidates that they’ve been eliminated from contention for the gig, and the organization is moving forward with the assumption that Patricia will be their head coach once the Patriots’ season ends.
Despite rumblings that Patricia had more interest in the Giants head coaching gig, reports from this morning indicated that Patricia would ultimately accept the Lions job. There have been whispers that Patricia would land in Detroit since the beginning of January, and there were even rumors that he could take the Lions job before the team fired former coach Jim Caldwell.
The Patriots defensive coordinator seems to be a natural fit for the Lions, especially when you consider his relationship with general manager Bob Quinn (who previously worked in New England). After working his way up through the Patriots coaching staff, Patricia was named defensive coordinator back in 2012. In six seasons in the role, the Patriots’ defense has never ranked lower than tenth in points allowed.
Our Head Coaching Tracker shows that Patricia was only one of many candidates to be interviewed by the Lions. The organization also reached out to 2017 coordinators Teryl Austin and Jim Bob Cooter, Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.
I wonder if the Lions will ever figure it out. I get why they want a defensive minded coach, they need to fix that defense but on offense they have issues, they have no run game and they seem to have knack for starting slow on offense and either coming back to win or barely losing. I hope they get it figured out. I would love to see that team get over the hump but at this point I’m not overly confident. Hopefully Patricia and his staff get it done though.
I think Patricia with the right offensive coordinator could do a nice job with the Lions. All that time working under Belichik is certainly valuable. Defensive minded or not, I think with the right people around him and people he clicks with, he’ll do well.
Rumors are that Patricia will keep current lions OC Jim Bob Cooter(as per staffords request) and bring in his own DC to replace former lions DC Terryl Austin who left for the bengals
Im curious who becomes the new coordinators for the Pats. I personally want John DiFilippo, and Brian Flores
I’m amazed at how they were able to basically waste the GOAT RB and one of the the Very very most dominate WR’s in the history of the game. Sanders and Johnson.
How did they waste them? They made the playoffs multiple times with each of them as well as brought in many fans with their flashiness