On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions ended all the speculation and made the polarizing decision to retain both general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia for another year. Fan reaction has certainly been mixed, and it’s easy to see why. People are right to be frustrated. This team’s 9-20-1 record since 2018, when Patricia walked through those doors, is the fifth-worst record in the NFL.
But fans are also right to be hesitant blowing it all up. A lack of stability has sunken other franchises—including the Lions—for decades, and one of the worst mistakes a team can make is giving up on a regime too early.