Allen Park, MI Jim Caldwell, the head coach of the Detroit Lions, was let go after four seasons and less than a year after he signed an extension.

On Monday morning, the group made the news. During his season-ending press conference, Lions general manager Bob Quinn lauded Caldwell but stated that winning championships is his ultimate aim, and he believed Detroit needed a change in leadership and a fresh voice.

Quinn stated, There’s not one thing on Monday afternoon. Just by looking at our record in the last several years that I’ve been here, you can see that we haven’t defeated the really talented teams.

Although we had a better-than-average record (9-7 in the last two years), we did not have a very strong record against the league’s top teams.

Later on Monday, Caldwell expressed his gratitude to the Lions and their owner, Martha Firestone Ford, for the amazing opportunity to have been a part of the Lions organization, serving as head coach for the past 4 years, in a statement.

Our players and coaching staff poured their hearts out in an effort to sustain the standard of greatness this company has learned to demand, he said, expressing gratitude for the tremendous effort they had put in.

I hope for further success in the future for the Lions, my coaching staff, our players, and the devoted Lions supporters who were very supportive.

Although Caldwell, 62, enjoyed winning seasons in three of his four years in Detroit, the Lions, who finished 9-7 this season, have missed the playoffs twice in the previous three years.

In a statement, Ford stated, I think Jim is one of the finest leaders we’ve ever had as our head coach.

He not only led us to three successful seasons on the field, but he also established a high bar off the field that had a profound effect on all members of our team as well as the community at large.

Many of our athletes have already expressed how his impact on them went beyond just the football field and will continue to have a good impact on their lives.

“Jim made our organization better, and we will always be grateful.”

Steve Wilks, the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, informed reporters on Monday that the Lions are considering interviewing him to take Caldwell’s job.

According to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit has also requested an interview with Matt Patricia, the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

Teryl Austin, the defensive coordinator for the Lions, will interview on Tuesday, an insider told Josina Anderson of ESPN.

Quinn stated that he has no preference between an offensive or defensive coach and that the next Lions coach does not need to have head coaching experience. He doesn’t have a search timeline.

Quinn added that no player, not even quarterback Matthew Stafford, will be involved in the coaching search process.

Stafford had meetings with some of the applicants after Caldwell was hired. Quinn and Rod Wood, the president of the Lions, will be conducting the interviews; no owner will be present.

Both wide receiver Marvin Jones and quarterback Stafford expressed their preference for the Lions’ next head coach to keep offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, who is currently under contract.

Ron Prince, the offensive line coach, was also let go by the Lions on Monday, an ESPN source said.

Although Caldwell had an overall winning record, during his tenure, he was 4-23 versus teams that were above 500.

During the last stretch of the 2017 season, when they were vying for a division title and a postseason berth, the Lions suffered defeats to the Vikings on Thanksgiving and then to Baltimore and Cincinnati in December, thus eliminating Detroit from the playoff picture.

Caldwell’s firing was influenced by his record of losing to elite teams during his time there; he missed out on division crowns in 2014 and 2016, for example, and lost games in Week 17 versus Green Bay.

Quinn stated, That’s a major reason I’m here today. I believe there were several games we should have won, could have won, and would have won.

This is a results-driven company. Wins and defeats are what this is. You discuss every single play, every single player, the staff, and everything else. It all boils down to championships and football victories.

Quinn accepted some of the blame for the Lions’ consecutive 9-7 records from the previous two seasons, but he also expressed the opinion that the teams from those previous two seasons were capable of finishing with higher records.

Caldwell received recognition from Stafford for his progress. During his four seasons with Caldwell, Stafford increased his overall efficiency, decreased the number of interceptions he had, and increased his completion percentage. In the four seasons between 2014 and 2017, he averaged 4,323 passing yards with 107 touchdowns and 45 interceptions, completing 64.6 percent of his throws.

He’s been excellent. He’s the most composed individual I’ve ever encountered, Stafford remarked. She knows how to handle the position of quarterback extremely well, which was helpful for me and many other offensive players to bounce ideas off of.

Because of the way he conducted himself, guided us, and interacted with everyone, I have the utmost regard for him. He’s an amazing man and coach.

Lions safety Don Carey, who was especially close to Caldwell, stated that following Caldwell’s release, he called with him, and they exchanged encouraging words. Caldwell is someone Carey greatly admires, and he wishes to keep in touch with him.

Carey claimed that Caldwell was as even-keeled as he always is, and that’s what makes him remarkable” throughout their talk.

He doesn’t seem overly enthusiastic or agitated toward you. He appeared to have the same attitude at all times.

Quinn addressed the club during their last significant meeting before heading out for the offseason, in place of Caldwell’s speech to the Lions on Monday.

Quinn, according to tight end Eric Ebron, offered the squad very much something to look forward to and pretty much what he’s looking forward to achieving, the future of this club, and what he has in mind.

Detroit hasn’t prevailed over Dallas in a postseason match since January 5, 1992, and hasn’t won a divisional championship since 1993.

Buddy Parker had a 47-23-2 record and a.671 winning percentage from 1951 to 1956, making Caldwell the coach with the highest winning percentage of anyone to have managed the Lions for more than one season. Caldwell’s mark was 563.