SideLion Report
FanSided

3 Lions players you may have forgotten about from the Jim Caldwell era

By Brad Berreman

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Anquan Boldin #80 of the Detroit Lions reacts after making a catch for a first down during the third quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on October 16, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Rams 31-28. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Anquan Boldin #80 of the Detroit Lions reacts after making a catch for a first down during the third quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on October 16, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Rams 31-28. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Jim Caldwell helmed the most successful run for the Lions in recent memory, but you probably forgot these guys played for him in Detroit.

Over four seasons as Detroit Lions head coach, Jim Caldwell had a 36-28 record with three winning seasons and two playoff appearances. Given what the franchise has done over the last 25-30 years, that success stands out. But then-general manager Bob Quinn had to bring in his guy as head coach, and fired Caldwell after a 9-7 non-playoff campaign in 2017 to hire Matt Patricia.

The Lions are hoping to build back up to the level reached under Caldwell, if not beyond, as veterans get added to a young core. The team under Caldwell had a similar mix, and quarterback Matthew Stafford had a couple of his best seasons in Detroit over those years.

Here are three Lions players you may have forgotten played for the team under Jim Caldwell.

3 players you may have forgotten played for the Detroit Lions under Jim Caldwell

Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /

3. OT Greg Robinson (2017)

The second overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Robinson makes any list of draft busts over the last 20 years or so.

After three seasons with the Rams, Robinson was traded to the Lions for a 2018 sixth-round pick in June of 2017. He started six games at left tackle with Taylor Decker sidelined by shoulder surgery, but he was waived in November after missing a couple games with an injury of his own. He was placed on IR after clearing waivers.

Robinson made his way to the Cleveland Browns, starting 22 of the 31 games he played in over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He has been out of the league since, with arrests in February of 2020 and February of 2022 for drug possession of some sort.

A partial season with the Lions is a mere footnote in Robinson’s disappointing NFL career.

Home/Lions History