Extension keeps Caldwell in Detroit

ALLEN PARK, MICH. The Detroit Lions silenced questions about Jim Caldwell’s future with the team, announcing he has been retained to coach them during the 2017 season.

Caldwell refused to talk much about it other than to say he appreciated the move made by general manager Bob Quinn and team owner Martha Firestone Ford.

“The focus is still about this team,” Caldwell said Wednesday in an opening statement at his news conference. “It’s about getting our guys ready.”

Caldwell declined to answer questions related to him, deflecting the conversation toward an NFC wild card matchup between sixth-seeded Detroit and the thirdseeded Seahawks on Saturday in Seattle.

Caldwell helped the Lions earn a spot in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, joining Bobby Ross and Buddy Parker as the only coaches in franchise history to do that during their first three seasons.

Detroit bounced back from a slow start, but then lost its last three games of the regular season, dropping Caldwell’s overall record to 27-21 in Detroit. Quinn quieted questions about Caldwell’s future nearly a year ago, keeping him instead of bringing in a new coach in his first year as a general manager.

The duo has stayed in touch daily and Caldwell said their relationship is excellent.

“When you think about it, we communicate as much as we communicate because we have to,” Caldwell said.