Ndamukong Suh: Jim Caldwell Was the Answer for Detroit Lions

Former Detroit Lions continue to defend Jim Caldwell. Read more.

The number of former Detroit Lions coming to the defense of Jim Caldwell this week has not slowed down.

Following Detroit's Week 4 loss to the Saints, head coach Matt Patricia was asked why supporters of the Lions should continue to believe in the current regime.

“Certainly, I think when I came to Detroit, there was a lot of work to do  and that’s what we’re trying to do," he said.

Former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell
Former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell / © Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Since he made those comments Sunday, Patricia has been under heavy scrutiny from several former players who have expressed strong support for the efforts of their former coach in Caldwell.

"To come in and say that you had a lot of work to do is completely false. It’s a bunch of trash! This team was built for growth, not regression," former Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky said Monday on ESPN Radio.

Recall, Caldwell had back-to-back seasons in which Detroit secured nine victories prior to his dismissal at the end of the 2017 NFL season.

The latest player to express that Caldwell was indeed the right man for the job was Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.

As Suh explained via social media Thursday morning, 

"(Jim) Schwartz was a good coach, Caldwell was the answer and didn’t get the ample opportunity to fully put his finger prints on the team, let alone make crucial decisions for further success!

Additionally, the community, if I’m not mistaken, loved and fully embraced the Caldwell’s!"

In an appearance on Glover Quin's "The DB Room" YouTube show, Caldwell revealed that based on the conversations he had with general manager Bob Quinn, he felt Detroit's then-new general manager wanted to hire his own coach.

"I think without question that had he been left to his own devices, I probably would have been gone the day he came in. Just kind of the feeling that I got, even though obviously it went through a two-week process of kind of going through an interview process with him in order to keep my job," Caldwell explained. 

Since 2018, Detroit has gone 10-25-1, and has set two new NFL records for blowing double-digit leads.

Following the bye week, Detroit (1-3) travels to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team (1-3) that is also looking to turn its season around after a slow start.

More from SI All Lions:

Is the Relationship Strained Between Lions' Players and Coaches?

3 Potential Replacements for Bob Quinn

Detroit Lions Rush Defense Ranks 30th in NFL

Legend of Jim Caldwell Has Grown Because Matt Patricia Has Failed

Lions Headed Toward Repeating Mistakes of Houston Texans

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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!