The Lions announced early Monday morning they had relieved Jim Caldwell of his head coaching duties.
"I feel like there was a need in change of the leadership of this team," general manager Bob Quinn said in a press conference later that day. "Starting today, I'll be leading that search to hire a new head coach for the Lions."
In four years as head coach, Caldwell finished with a record of 36-28 (.563), including a 16-8 record (.667) against NFC North opponents. But at the end of the day, Quinn didn't feel Caldwell could meet the expectations he helped raise.
"I think that's a big part of why I'm standing here today," Quinn said. "There were games we could have, would have, should have won, and we didn't.
"This is a results business. This is wins and losses. You can talk about all the individual plays, all the individual players, staff. You can talk about all that stuff, it comes down to winning games and winning championships."
Quinn made it clear the Lions are looking to win, and win now.
"I think we have a really good, solid nucleus of players that can kind of be molded into what the new head coach wants his team to look like," he said.
So now, the search is on.
COACHING CANDIDATES
The Lions have already completed interviews with six head coaching candidates. Learn more about each candidate below:
LOOKING AHEAD
With the ending of the Lion's regular season, it's time to take a look ahead at what the future holds:
- The team reported 10 Reserve/Future signings Monday, and added safety Stefan McClure to that list Tuesday
- The Lions' victory over Green Bay last Sunday locked in their draft position for the 2018 NFL Draft.
- The full 2018 schedule won't come out until later this offseason, but the Lions' 2018 home and away opponents are set.
**AN AWARD FOR ANSAH
**
After dealing with injuries all season long, defensive end Ziggy Ansah finished the season strong with back to back 3-sack performances.
The latest, against Green Bay in the season finale, earned Ansah NFC defensive player of the week honors.
Ansah is a soon-to-be free agent, which means his recent burst in production will make Quinn's decision a bit tougher.
"I think there's a lot of critical decisions, I think that's probably one of them," Quinn said of determining Ansah's future this offseason. "But that's something that once the new staff is in place, the new head coach, the scheme, all that's figured out, that's going to be factored in to what we do with Ziggy."
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
- It's awards season! Two Lions players were named first-team All-Pro by AP, and three Lions rookies made Pro Football Journal's All-Rookie team.
- Tim Twentyman takes a look back at five yards that made a difference in the Lions' 2017 season.
- Wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. plans to work with Hall of Fame nominee Randy Moss again this offseason.
- While the season winds down, defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. is ready to ramp up his training.
- Read why tight end Eric Ebron's confidence and production noticeably improved over the second half of the 2017 season.
