In February of 2018, the Detroit Lions signed former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as the franchise’s newest head coach. During his six-years in charge of the Patriots defense, and under the watchful eye of legendary head coach Bill Belichick, Patricia guided his squad to six-straight conference championship games, three Super Bowl appearances, and two Lombardi Trophies.
Patricia’s pedigree made him the top head coaching prospect back in 2018. And his reputation as a defensive genius seemed to ensure that the Lions would, at the very least, improve on that side of the football.