Lions fire GM Martin Mayhew, president Tom Lewand

The Detroit Lions have fired team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew.

The Detroit Lions have fired team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew, the team announced Thursday. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news. 

The Lions retained head coach Jim Caldwell, but have made changes in their front office after a 1–7 start and a 41–63 record since Lewand and Mayhew took over football operations in 2009. The team made the playoffs twice in that span, losing in the first round both times. Detroit has not won a playoff game since 1991 and has never played in the Super Bowl.

Vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White has been named interim general manager, and senior vice president of administration and chief financial officer Allison Maki will be the interim chief operating officer, reporting to owner Martha Ford

The moves come one week after Detroit fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and both its offensive line coaches, Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan.

Ford addressed reporters Thursday to discuss the changes. She said there were no more planned changes to the coaching staff and that she has “no intention of giving up on the season,” despite a dismal start. "We expect our team to compete, improve and win,” Ford said.

“We are very disappointed with the results of the season so far and believe a change in leadership was necessary,” Ford said. “We are beginning a national search for the best leadership to manage our team going forward. I want to assure our fans that we intend to identify and hire the very best leadership in order to produce a consistently winning football team. Our fans deserve a winning football team and we will do everything possible to make it a reality.”

The Lions are on a bye week after losing to the Chiefs in London on Sunday. Their offense has scored the third-fewest points per game while the defense has surrendered the most. 

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- Dan Gartland