After spending 2019 as the division doormat, going worst to first seems impossible for the Detroit Lions with their history. But is it really impossible?

Two years ago, in 2017, the San Francisco 49ers hired first-time head coach Kyle Shanahan. The Niners went 6-10 and were awarded the ninth pick in the NFL draft.

The next season the 49ers went 4-12, drafted second and was rewarded for bad coaching with an invite to coach the Senior Bowl. Is this starting to sound familiar Detroit Lions fans?

The Lions went 6-10 in 2018 under first-time head coach Matt Patricia and picked eighth in the draft last year. And as you might have heard Detroit just went 3-12-1 and are now holding the third pick in April’s draft. Oh, and they are coaching in the Senior Bowl.

As far as the records and draft positions between the two teams are concerned, the difference is only half a game. The similarities don’t stop with the head coach and players either.

The 49ers ownership chose to stay the course with general manager John Lynch and his group of friends for a front office and coaching staff for their third year after two losing seasons.

Hell, I bet Lions general manager Bob Quinn even used the San Francisco example this year with Lions ownership to keep himself and friends on the payroll for year three.

A lot of what Detroit needs to fix for a turnaround is what San Francisco just successfully rehabilitated. Watch out as all three of the issues I detail are big umbrella issues. But the first one is the biggest …