Lions hire coordinator as coach

Patricia leaves Patriots one day after Super loss

The Detroit Lions hired Matt Patricia Monday, doubling down on the franchise’s hope it can copy the New England Patriots’ formula for success. The expected hiring of the defensive coordinator came a day after the Patriots lost to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.

“This position comes with great responsibility, and I will commit every ounce of my energy to this football team, starting today,” Patricia said in a statement released by the team.

Lions general manager Bob Quinn made the move, reuniting with someone he worked with in New England for more than a decade.

“He has been preparing for this opportunity his entire career, and he’s ready for the responsibility and its challenges,” Quinn said.

Quinn fired coach Jim Caldwell at the end of the season with a record eight games above .500 over four years and postseason appearances in 2016 and 2014. The Lions went 9-7 this season and missed the playoffs.

Patricia, 43, was the Patriots defensive coordinator for six seasons, ending with his unit giving up 41 points and 538 yards to the Eagles.

“Obviously, I didn’t do a good enough job here with the defense,” he told reporters Sunday night after the loss in Minneapolis.

Colts

A man being held in a suspected drunken-driving crash that killed Indianapolis linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver twice has been deported from the United States — a revelation an Indiana congressman said should anger “all Americans.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, 37, remained jailed Monday but has not been charged in the deadly crash Sunday along Interstate 70 in Indianapolis. State Police said Monday that Orrego-Savala is a citizen of Guatemala who gave officers a fake name when he was arrested after the pre-dawn crash.

Police said Jackson, who grew up in Atlanta, and Uber driver Jeffrey Monroe, 54, were standing outside Monroe’s car along I-70 after Jackson became ill while Monroe was transporting him for the ride-hailing company.

Both men were struck and killed by a pickup truck driven by Orrego-Savala, police said. Investigators said they believe Orrego-Savala, who lives in Indianapolis, was intoxicated and driving without a license.

Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick was no more forthcoming Monday about his surprise benching of one-time Super Bowl star Malcolm Butler. Speaking on a conference call the day after the Patriots blew their chance at a sixth NFL title with a 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Belichick said “there are a lot of things that go into that.” He declined to be specific.

Butler’s interception in the end zone in the final minute of the Super Bowl against Seattle clinched New England’s 2014 championship. He had been one of the Patriots’ steadiest players this season, appearing in 98 percent of the defensive snaps and starting 17 of 18 games this season. But the defensive back made it on the field for only one play Sunday — on special teams.

Eagles

The championship parade will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Broad and Pattison and head north to the Philadelphia Art Museum.