Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell listed as candidate for NFC North job

Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell may get another shot at a head coaching job, and he has been listed as a potential candidate for a looming NFC North opening.

In light of how his replacement did, it’s easy to say the Detroit Lions made a mistake firing Jim Caldwell after the 2017 season. But he has resurfaced as a candidate for another chance as a head coach, with an interview having already happened with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller mentioned Caldwell as a candidate for the Chicago Bears at one point, as the hours now count down on Matt Nagy’s tenure as head coach.

But could another NFC North team look at Caldwell?

As inevitable as the Bears firing Nagy is, it feels like it’s similarly a foregone conclusion the Minnesota Vikings will relieve Mike Zimmer of his duties (and it seems it will be a relief for him to be fired). The two teams also happen to be playing each other on Sunday.

Jim Caldwell listed as candidate for Vikings job

Under the assumption the Vikings fire Zimmer, Liam McKeone of The Big Lead has made a list of three candidates to be Minnesota’s next head coach. Along with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Caldwell made the cut.

"Caldwell’s name has been coming up this year after being out of the last few hiring cycles, and he makes quite a bit of sense as a potential Vikings hire. Caldwell is the definition of a high-floor low-ceiling head coach; his last stop in Detroit featured three winning records in four seasons and two playoff appearances, but his teams never advanced past Wild Card weekend.In that way, he is very similar to Kirk Cousins, which makes this all a natural marriage. Caldwell may not stick around for more than a few years but can keep the ship steady as the Vikings transition into their next era of football. Far from the most exciting hire, but one that feels more likely to happen than any other."

The idea of Caldwell, the Vikings and Kirk Cousins as a “natural marriage” is a nice way to say it’d be a naturally milquetoast, low-ceiling marriage. Caldwell would be a steady hand to guide Minnesota moving forward for a few years, much as he was for the Lions, but the upside wouldn’t be great–as Detroit found out.