Lions hire Jim Caldwell as coach
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have hired Jim Caldwell as head coach, ending a two-week search during which they interviewed only four candidates.
The 58-year-old Caldwell fit a lot of the criteria Detroit had during its search. The Lions wanted someone with head-coaching experience and experience on offense, apparently preferably with quarterbacks.
[+] Enlarge
Caldwell became the second minority candidate to land a head-coaching job this month, joining new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith.
Caldwell was the first person to interview for the Detroit job, followed by former Texans coach Gary Kubiak, former Titans coach Mike Munchak and Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.
Detroit was spurned by Whisenhunt, thought to be the top choice, on Monday when he chose the Titans job.
The Lions had been seeking a replacement for Jim Schwartz, who was fired following Detroit's late-season collapse and 7-9 finish.
Caldwell has been a head coach at two prior stops -- from 2009 to 2011 with the Colts and from 1993 to 2000 with Wake Forest.
Caldwell, who turns 59 on Thursday, posted a 26-22 record in three seasons after replacing Tony Dungy in Indianapolis. The Colts reached the Super Bowl in Caldwell's first season at the helm and went to the playoffs the following season.
After the Demon Deacons fired Caldwell, he became a quarterbacks coach in the NFL, first for Tampa Bay, where he worked with Brad Johnson in 2001 and then with Indianapolis, where he was Peyton Manning's position coach from 2002 until 2008.
After being fired by Indianapolis in 2011, Caldwell went to Baltimore first as quarterbacks coach and then as the Ravens' offensive coordinator for their Super Bowl run after replacing Cam Cameron in December of last season.
Under Caldwell this season, the Ravens were 29th in total offense (307.4 yards a game) and 25th in scoring (20 points a game). Quarterback Joe Flacco, who Caldwell was brought in to mentor, threw more interceptions (22) than touchdown passes (19) this season.
Caldwell, who played defensive back at Iowa from 1973 to 1976, has spent the entirety of his coaching career on offense, including at Penn State as quarterbacks coach from 1986 to 1992.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
ESPN Detroit Lions reporter
Post a Comment for "Lions hire Jim Caldwell as coach"