Earlier this morning, the Detroit Lions tweeted out that they had relieved special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs of his job.
Coombs, who was regarded as a bright spot for the Lions so far in an otherwise crappy 2020 season, had led the Lions to the fourth-most efficient special teams unit in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Lions have the fourth-most efficient special teams outfit in the NFL per PFF. Third in the league in hidden points.
Literally the only thing they've excelled at in stretches all season.
Hoo boy.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 21, 2020
Now, according to multiple reports, we now know why the Lions decided to fire Coombs so abruptly.
Kyle Meinke of MLive is reporting that Coobs “was fired over calling a fake punt without Darrell Bevell’s knowledge or approval, per team source. Bevell made the decision to fire Coombs and it was approved by Rod Wood.”
I can confirm Brayden Coombs was fired over calling a fake punt without Darrell Bevell's knowledge or approval, per team source. Bevell made the decision to fire Coombs and it was approved by Rod Wood.
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) December 21, 2020
Also via Kyle Meinke:
“The decision was building for some time over cultural clashes within the organization, and Coombs’ decision to go rogue and call a fake punt without interim head coach Darrell Bevell’s knowledge or approval sealed his exit according to a team source. Bevell made the decision to fire Coombs, and it was approved by team president Rod Wood.”
Following the game, Bevell was asked about the fake punt and here was his reply.
“We liked some of the fakes that we had,” Bevell said. “We feel like (C.J. Moore) is a guy that’s got some good speed, have an opportunity to have the edge blocked and get him on the edge, so we ended up going with that. We could have definitely left the offense out there as well, but with the clock and where the time was, it seemed like a good opportunity for that.”
Yeah, so the Lions just let an interim head coach fire the team’s best coordinator. Splendid.
Nothing says he cant be hired back – Unless you think Bevel is going to be the next Head Coach?
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHY DID BEFEL NOT CHALLENGE THE SPOT ON THE FAKE PUNT PLAY. THERE WAS NOTHING TO LOOSE BY A CHALLENGE . And yeh a interm coach fires the only part of the lions game that was any good so BEVEL HEAR THIS BYE BYE PUPPET