Over the past three years, the Detroit Lions have transformed from one of the NFL's perennial underperformers into one of the NFC's elite teams. This resurgence was marked by an impressive 2023 season, which saw the Lions clinch the NFC North title for the first time in decades and make a remarkable playoff run. The Lions' success was further highlighted by their triumph in their first playoff game since 1991, and they came tantalizingly close to securing a spot in the Super Bowl after a fierce battle in the NFC Championship Game.
The metamorphosis of the Lions has been largely credited to the dynamic leadership duo of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Campbell's coaching prowess and Holmes' adept personnel decisions have invigorated a franchise that had long been synonymous with mediocrity. However, this successful turnaround story has an additional, somewhat contentious layer, as elaborated by legendary coach Bill Belichick.
Belichick’s Perspective
Bill Belichick, speaking on the "Let's Go" podcast, attributed a significant part of the Lions' turnaround to the foundational work laid by former head coach Matt Patricia. Belichick asserted, "I think that the Lions have built a really good offensive line for their quarterback, and they couldn't get a lot of production in the red area last week, but that's something that Matt Patricia started and now they're kind of getting the fruits of the labor from him."
This viewpoint adds an intriguing angle to the Lions' narrative. Patricia, who served alongside Belichick for 14 years in New England before his tenure in Detroit, had a complicated stint as the Lions' head coach. He was hired in 2018 but struggled to achieve consistent results, culminating in a 13-29-1 record. His winning percentage of .314 ranks as the fourth-lowest in the history of the franchise.
Building Blocks of Success
Despite Patricia's overall lackluster record, it's worth noting that he and former general manager Bob Quinn were responsible for drafting center Frank Ragnow in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Ragnow has since become a cornerstone of the Lions' offensive line. However, other key members of the current lineup, such as Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow, were already part of the team before Patricia’s arrival. Notably, Glasgow was not re-signed by Patricia and Quinn in 2019.
Further additions to the offensive line, including Penei Sewell and Kevin Zeitler, were made through the draft and free agency after Patricia's departure in mid-2020. These moves have fortified the line, offering robust protection and playing a crucial role in the Lions' recent success. This context provides a nuanced understanding of Belichick's comments, suggesting that while Patricia's regime did lay some groundwork, the full blossoming of the offensive line came under the stewardship of Campbell and Holmes.
The Road Ahead
As the Lions continue to forge their path in the NFL, questions about the legacy of Patricia’s influence will undoubtedly persist. The undeniable progress under Campbell and Holmes' watch contrasts sharply with the Patricia era, yet the contributions of key players acquired during his tenure cannot be entirely dismissed.
The Lions’ evolution into a formidable team in the NFC is a testament to the combined efforts of various leadership regimes and player acquisitions. The enthusiastic Detroit fanbase, long yearning for a competitive team, finally has reason to hope that this transformation is not a fleeting moment, but the start of sustained excellence.
In the final analysis, while Patricia's time in Detroit was marked by more losses than wins, his role in shaping part of the current lineup acknowledges that the road to success often involves multiple contributors. Campbell and Holmes have undoubtedly been the catalytic agents of the Lions' renaissance, proving that even in the NFL, success is rarely a solitary endeavor but a cumulative effort built over time. Such is the case with the Detroit Lions, a team now poised to rewrite its long and tumultuous history.