When it comes to the Detroit Lions, they have not exactly had any of the top coaches in NFL history. In fact, if you happen to follow the team, you are well aware of the fact that they have not had a coach lead them to a playoff win since the 1991 NFL Playoffs when Wayne Fontes led them to a dominating win over the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the NFC Championship Game. Because of that, it may not take current head coach Dan Campbell too long to crack this list of the team's Top 5 Detroit Lions coaches in franchise history.
Top 5 Detroit Lions coaches of all-time
The Detroit Lions have had several successful coaches throughout their history. Here are the Top 5 Detroit Lions coaches in the team's history: (As you can see, it is not pretty!)
- George Wilson (1957-1964): Wilson led Detroit to 2 NFL Championships during his tenure as head coach. He posted a winning record in seven of his eight seasons with the team.
- Buddy Parker (1951–1956): Parker also led the Lions to 2 NFL Championships. He posted a winning record in three of his six seasons in the Motor City.
- Joe Schmidt (1967-1972): Schmidt led Detroit to three consecutive playoff appearances. He had a winning record in five of his six seasons.
- Wayne Fontes (1988-1996): Fontes, still one of the most beloved coaches in Lions history, led the team to three playoff appearances. He had a winning record in eight of his nine seasons as head coach of the Lions
- Jim Caldwell (2014-2017): Caldwell led the Lions to two playoff appearances, but he was never able to win in the tournament. He had a winning record in two of his four seasons, but he was fired after a 9-7 season.
Honorable Mention
To be honest, we probably don't really need an Honorable Mention section, as the Lions have not exactly had many good coaches to choose from. That being said, here are the three former Detroit Lions coaches I considered for the No. 5 spot on the list.
- Bo McMillin
- Potsy Clark
- Steve Mariucci
