Before the start of the 2018 season, Jim Bob Cooter was considered a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks. In two-plus years as the offensive coordinator for the Lions, Cooter had done a lot to revive a hapless Lions offense that was struggling under his predecessor, Joe Lombardi. That made some believe he could be one of the next, young offensive minds to be considered for a head coaching spot.
Cooter’s claim to fame was that he helped to revive Matthew Stafford‘s career. The former No. 1 overall pick greatly improved his accuracy and consistency during Cooter’s time as offensive coordinator, and that allowed the Lions’ offense to operate efficiently despite their complete lack of a running game.