2021 NFL Draft: Five head coaches who will be fired before the draft
By Kyle Edmond
Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions (1-3)
In 2017, the Detroit Lions went 9-7 and decided to move on from Jim Caldwell. Out of all the potential head coaches, the name that came out of the decision was Matt Patricia who took over in 2018.
Since then, the Lions win total as decreased each season under Patricia’s tenure, resulting in a 3-13 record in 2019. The 2020 season is off to a bit of a better start with the Lions already at 1-3, but it will be an uphill battle for Patricia.
The Lions have struggled early in the year on the offensive side of the ball, totaling just 99 points so far while allowing 127. It should be noted that the Lions have played one less game than most of the league after having their bye in week five.
Regardless, the team will need to show improvement moving forward to save Patricia’s job. While four wins and a Top 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft would technically be an improvement for Detroit over last season, a record in the range of .500 will need to happen for him to return at this point.
The Lions have struggled to find someone to lead the team, having had seven head coaches over the last 20 years. Of those seven, Caldwell is the only one with a winning record. In fact, Patricia’s .271 winning percentage is third among Lions’ head coaches since 2001, trailing just Caldwell and Jim Schwartz.