2018 NFL Power Rankings: Top 32 Head Coaches in the NFL

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers reacts during the second half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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ALLEN PARK, MI – FEBRUARY 07: Matt Patricia speaks at a press conference after being hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

50. . HC. Detroit Lions. Matt Patricia . 27. player

There was no man more qualified or experienced to get a head coaching job in 2018 than Matt Patricia. His background was exemplary in every facet. He’d been a coordinator for six seasons. During that time his defenses regularly finished in the top 10 in points allowed and included three Super Bowl trips and two Lombardi trophies. One could argue he should’ve been hired sooner.

The problem is he isn’t coming off his best season. His defense struggled often last season and was shredded by the Eagles in the Super Bowl. It’s also difficult to tell how much of his success was due to Bill Belichick’s omnipresence in New England, especially given the lack of winning his subordinates do after leaving the umbrella. Patricia though is a motivator with an engineer’s brain. He can solve problems. That’s exactly what the Detroit Lions need.

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