Struggling Lions clean house, fire coach, GM
Matt Patricia opened his Thursday’s postgame news conference with the Detroit Lions by thanking his wife and children for their support.
He probably knew what was coming.
His boss, GM Bob Quinn, might not have expected the same fate.
The Lions fired Patricia and Quinn, who hired the coach to replace Jim Caldwell, and effectively ended the franchise’s attempt to replicate the success the men had in helping Bill Belichick in New England.
“It clearly wasn’t working,” Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said.
The duo joins a long list of general managers and coaches who have failed to help the franchise win over the last several decades. Since Detroit won the 1957 NFL title, it has won only one playoff game — and that was way back on Jan. 5, 1992.
“We can’t hide our past, that’s for sure,” said Hamp. “But I’m very dedicated to turning this ship around and really making a difference.”
Darrell Bevell, who has 14 seasons of experience as an offensive coordinator, will be the team’s interim coach for the final five games. General manager duties will be handled on an interim basis by Kyle O’brien, Lance Newmark, Rob Lohman and Mike Disner, all of whom worked for Quinn in the team’s front office.
This season, the Lions (4-7) lost consecutive games for the third time and it cost Quinn and Patricia their jobs. Detroit collapsed in a 41-25 loss to Houston at home Thursday after getting shut out for the first time in 11 years in the previous game at Carolina.
The setbacks dropped Patricia to 13-29-1 in two-plus seasons and Quinn’s mark fell 12 games under .500 over five seasons. “Ten days ago, we looked like we had a good chance to be playoff bound and both of those games were extremely disappointing,” Hamp said. “Yes, we thought it was a good time to make a change.”
COVID-19 UPDATES >> The Steelers placed leading rusher James Conner on the COVID-19 reserve list, while their scheduled opponent Tuesday, the division rival Ravens, added six more players to the list.
Conner is joining three teammates already on the list along with 20 Ravens — Baltimore is down to three defensive linemen — casting further doubt on the ability to pull off a game rescheduled from Thanksgiving night to Sunday to Tuesday.
The announcement came on the same day the Ravens put outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, right tackle D. J. Fluker, defensive lineman Broderick Washington and offensive lineman Will Holden on the COVID-19 list. Two others — defensive backs Khalil Dorsey and Tavon Young — were on injured reserve before also joining the list Saturday.
The NFL also moved Thursday night’s matchup between Baltimore and Dallas to Dec. 7.
• Broncos QB Drew Lock, his backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were pulled off the practice field and sent home over concerns about their contact with QB Jeff Driskel, who is infected with COVID-19. The Broncos, scheduled to host the Saints on today, were working with the NFL to resolve the situation.
• The Saints placed starting left tackle Terron Armstead on their COVID-19 list, leaving him ineligible for today’s game.
• The Colts will be without running back Jonathan Taylor today. He is one of three Indy starters sitting out because of COVID-19 when the Colts host the Titans Tennessee for the AFC South lead.