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Jim Caldwell's record this season and overall.
Update #2, 11:35 a.m. Wednesday: “I want to say I’m appreciative, thankful,” says Jim Caldwell after the Detroit Lions confirm he remains head coach next season.
“I’ve expressed my gratitude to [general manager] Bob [Quinn], Mrs. Ford and Ford family and [president] Rod Wood for their support,” the coach add at the start of a media briefing, according to Justin Rogers of The Detroit News.
Update #1. 9:15 a.m. Wednesday: Never mind all that speculation. Coach Jim Caldwell will return next season, the Lions confirm Wednesday morning.
Jim Caldwell at Wednesday's media briefing.
(Twitter photo by Fox2 Sports)
Michael Rothstein of ESPN reports:
Jim Caldwell, who has said repeatedly over the past few weeks that the conversation shouldn't be about him amid questions about his job status, will return as coach of the Detroit Lions next season, the team announced Wednesday.
Caldwell won't have to worry about that anymore, as a team official told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the Lions want continuity on their staff after making the playoffs in two of the past three seasons. The last time the Lions accomplished that was from 1997-99.
Detroit had a two-game lead in the NFC North heading into Week 15 against the New York Giants but lost its last three games to slip from a possible division title to a wild-card matchup at NFC West champ Seattle on Saturday night. That slide -- combined with the fact that Caldwell was hired by a previous regime and not current general manager Bob Quinn -- had brought Caldwell's job status into question.
Original article, Wednesday morning:
If you're a Lions' fan, certainly you processed a lot of emotions this year.
First off, you were disappointed by the team's poor start. Then you were surprised and overjoyed by the sudden surge of victories. Then you were very disappointed by the last three losses in a row. Of course, on Saturday, you won't be shocked if the team gets beat by the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card game.
If they do, plenty fans will call for the firing of Lions' Coach Jim Caldwell.
Detroit News sports columnist Bob Wojnowski disagrees. He writes that Caldwell should return next year -- regardless of Saturday's outcome:
Jim Caldwell isn’t looking for a public endorsement, it’s not his style. But he deserves one, and speculation about his job status should be over.
Caldwell has done enough to return, taking the Lions to the playoffs twice in three seasons. It’s barely debatable in my mind, but because the Lions stumbled down the stretch — and GM Bob Quinn isn’t commenting until after the season — it’s a question. It shouldn’t be, no matter what happens in the playoff game against the Seahawks.
The Lions are a flawed team and Caldwell has his own flaws, and I’m not here to say he deserves unlimited time. But he’s certainly earned a fourth season and a modest contract extension. If everyone’s being honest, (including Quinn), they’d admit this roster doesn’t have the standard nine-win talent. Vegas odds before the season pegged the Lions as a seven-win team and not much changed, other than Matthew Stafford’s big-play, late-game prowess.
Graphic from CoachingTreeHotSeat.com
