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How did Matt Patricia’s predecessors do in their coaching debuts?

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 30: Head coach Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions looks on while playing the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 30: Head coach Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions looks on while playing the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images /

Steve Mariucci – 2003

What he inherited: The Lions were firmly entrenched at the bottom of the NFL standings. The 3-13 record in 2002 was a minuscule improvement from going 2-14 in 2001.

Year 1 Expectations Level: Mariucci was not only a real head coach, but he had Michigan ties and plenty of success in his six seasons leading the 49ers.

Matt Millen‘s front office decisions were just beginning to become the stuff of legend, but Mariucci came in with a proven track record and seemingly plenty of reason to believe he would succeed.

First Game: Win, 42-24 vs Arizona

Joey Harrington (kicking off his 2nd year) looked great, Charles Rogers looked like a Calvin Johnson prequel, and Mariucci looked like the guy in Detroit. Things stalled out from there, and the Lions never topped six wins in Mariucci’s three years.

*Mariucci was fired towards the end of the 2005 season, and Dick Jauron was interim head coach for the final five games.

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