TIME FLIES: Detroit Lions head coaches since their last title in 1957
The Detroit Lions’ last NFL championship victory in 1957 feels like a distant memory, a golden era long passed. Since that triumph, the Lions have endured a prolonged drought, with a revolving door of head coaches attempting to recapture that long-lost magic. Let’s take a look at the men who have stood at the helm, trying to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Detroit.
The sheer length of this list is a testament to the Lions’ struggles. It’s a somber stroll through decades of hope, heartbreak, and ultimately, disappointment.
- George Wilson (1957-1964):
- Inherited the championship team, but couldn’t sustain the success.
- Harry Gilmer (1965-1966):
- A brief tenure marked by struggles.
- Joe Schmidt (1967-1972):
- A Lions legend as a player, but his coaching stint didn’t yield a championship.
- Don McCafferty (1973):
- Tragically, McCafferty passed away during the 1973 season.
- Tommy Hudspeth (1976-1977):
- Another short-lived era.
- Monte Clark (1978-1984):
- Clark brought some stability, but playoff success remained elusive.
- Darryl Rogers (1985-1988):
- Rogers’ tenure was marked by struggles and ultimately, his departure.
- Wayne Fontes (1988-1996):
- Fontes led the Lions to their most recent playoff victory in 1991, fueled by the brilliance of Barry Sanders.
- Bobby Ross (1997-2000):
- Ross’s tenure was cut short by his abrupt resignation.
- Gary Moeller (2000):
- Interim coach after Ross resigned.
- Marty Mornhinweg (2001-2002):
- A disastrous era, marked by a historically bad season.
- Steve Mariucci (2003-2005):
- Mariucci’s arrival brought high expectations, but they were never met.
- Dick Jauron (2005):
- Interim coach after Mariucci was fired.
- Rod Marinelli (2006-2008):
- Marinelli oversaw the infamous 0-16 season.
- Jim Schwartz (2009-2013):
- Schwartz brought some competitiveness, but playoff success remained elusive.
- Jim Caldwell (2014-2017):
- Caldwell provided stability and playoff appearances, but couldn’t get over the hump.
- Matt Patricia (2018-2020):
- Patricia’s tenure was marked by controversy and poor performance.
- Darrell Bevell (2020):
- Interim coach after Patricia was fired.
- Dan Campbell (2021-Present):
- Currently leading the team, Campbell has brought a renewed sense of hope and toughness to the Lions, and has brought the team to the NFC championship game.
The list is a stark reminder of the challenges the Lions have faced. While some coaches brought brief moments of hope, none have been able to replicate the success of the 1957 championship team until Dan Campbell. Now with Dan Campbell, the outlook of the lions has drastically changed.
The search for a championship continues in Detroit. Will Dan Campbell finally be the coach to break the drought? Only time will tell.