Matt Patricia praises the Lions’ “incredible” success under Dan Campbell

Former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, along with former general manager Bob Quinn, attempted to bring the “Patriot Way” culture of New England to Detroit. In short, it was a failure that cost them both their jobs.

But that hasn’t stopped Patricia from acknowledging the team’s remarkable turnaround under his successor.

During a Thursday morning appearance on NFL Network Good morning footballPatricia praised the Lions, who are 11-1 and atop the NFC, and their progress under head coach Dan Campbell, while expressing his enthusiasm for the city of Detroit.

“I love Detroit. I’m so happy for the fans,” Patricia said. “That fan base…when you take a job and go to a city, all you really want to do as a coach is win. You want to win for the people who really want to have it and experience it. And I’m for Dan and his staff and the players that are there (and) for the responsibility.

“(Detroit) is on fire right now. It’s great. It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s incredible what they do. I love the way they play the game.”

While Patricia is now celebrating Detroit’s success, his tenure alongside Quinn was marked by struggles that paved the way for the Lions’ transformation under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.

Although Quinn had been the team’s general manager for several years before hiring Patricia, their partnership produced a disappointing 13-29-1 record. Their tenure ended on November 28, 2020 after a demoralizing 41-25 loss on Thanksgiving Day to the Houston Texans.

The Lions’ decision to sign Campbell and Holmes in 2021 sparked a slow but deliberate rebuild. Together, they reshaped the team’s identity based on toughness and “grit,” a philosophy that has led to steady improvement in each of their four seasons.

Last season marked a turning point for the franchise. The Lions finished 12-5, won the NFL’s first division title since realignment and made it to the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, feats the team hadn’t accomplished in about three decades.

Now, with the best record in the NFL, the Lions are not only well-positioned to win their second straight division title, but are also the odds-on favorites to win their first-ever Super Bowl.

The roots of Detroit’s resurgence became clear in the 2022 season. After a 3-13-1 season the year before, the Lions stumbled to a 1-6 start. However, they ended the season by winning eight of their last ten games, finishing 9-8 and laying the foundation for their success today.

“Give credit to Dan Campbell for what he did to get the entire building to follow what he wanted them to do, believe in what they preached, go out there (and) work hard,” said Patricia. “We all know what it’s like in the NFL when you’re just in it – you have a little bit of success and you get a little bit of that belief. Look, everyone is doing well in the NFL. They are great football players.

“Sometimes you just need a little spark, a little faith. And we’ve seen that with single men who go out. Suddenly you make a play and become a great player in the league. This is no different for any other team. If you make a play, you get through one of those games that are tough and have a little bit of adversity. (Then) the spark goes over. Now you win. Everyone thinks they’re buying in, you build that momentum, and that’s the beauty of it. It’s great.”

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