Lions GM: Jim Caldwell could keep job even if team misses playoffs

Bob Quinn, entering his first year as Lions GM, could have a decision to make about Caldwell after the season.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell could keep his job after this season even if the team misses the playoffs, Detroit general manager Bob Quinn told the Detroit Free Press. 

"There is no mandate of number of wins and there is no mandate of playoffs," Quinn said of Caldwell’s future, according to the Free Press. 

Quinn, who the Lions hired this off-season, decided to keep Caldwell for a third season rather than hiring a new coach. After the team managed an 11-5 record and playoff berth in Caldwell’s first season, the Lions slipped to 7-9 last year. 

Detroit lost seven of its first eight games last year before going 6-2 the second half of the season. 

Quinn said that Caldwell’s future with the franchise will be determined by a number of factors, not just a playoff berth. 

“It’s a combination of wins-losses, decision making. How’s he handle the team? How does he handle adversity? Got players go down, I’m trying to shuffle guys in,” Quinn told the Free Press. “Can we get those guys up to speed and get them ready to play? It all goes into it; it’s not just one thing.”

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The Lions, who lost star wide receiver Calvin Johnson to retirement this off-season, open preseason on Aug. 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.