19452282-standard (2).jpg

One former executive likes the Lions' decision to stay with Jim Caldwell.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell was on the ropes after presiding over a 1-7 start to last season. Even after winning six of his final eight, many thought he'd be fired.

But incoming general manager Bob Quinn liked what he had to hear from Caldwell during a series of exhaustive meetings, and elected to keep him despite shakeups at so many other levels of the organization.

Former NFL general manager Bill Polian, who worked with Caldwell in Indianapolis, said he's a big fan of the move and that he expects Detroit to be rewarded for its patience.

"Had a bunch of bad luck last year," Polian said recently. "They didn't adjust 'til about midseason to the loss of (Ndamukong) Suh, from a strategic standpoint. But they got it righted, and so I think the way they played down the stretch is indicative of what he can do.

"I'm glad the new administration kept him, and I think he'll justify their faith in him."

Caldwell's overall body of work is impressive, at least by the Lions' lowly standards. He went 11-5 in his debut season, which tied a franchise record for most wins by a first-year coach, and he became one of just three coaches in team history to make the playoffs in his initial year.

The Lions have made the playoffs only one other time in the past 16 years.

That initial success ratcheted up expectations for the 2015 season, though, and Detroit fell apart. Caldwell did a poor job preparing the team for the season, and it fell to 1-7 before the bleeding finally seized.

Caldwell had to fire three assistants along the way, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, and his top two bosses -- general manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand -- were axed as well.

But Caldwell turned things around in the second half of the season. Most notably, his decision to promote quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter to replace Lombardi was an instant -- and, perhaps, job-saving -- success.

The Lions averaged nearly a touchdown more per game in the second half of the season, and quarterback Matthew Stafford flourished, to the tune of 19 touchdown passes, two interceptions and a 70-percent completion rate. After finishing in the top 18 in accuracy in his first six seasons, Stafford was fifth at 67.2 percent overall.

"I think when you saw what he did with them two years ago, when they were healthy, and they had Suh and a complete cast on defense, there's no question (that) the players responded to him," Polian said. "If you talk to the players, even today, they're 100 percent in his corner.

"They believe he takes them in the right direction, that he takes care of them, that he gets them to the game in good shape physically, mentally and strategically."

Players have universally supported Caldwell. Many were calling for his return, including stars such as Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson. Another, starting corner Rashean Mathis, said he might retire if Caldwell weren't retained.

Quinn took seven days to decide Caldwell's fate, and declined multiple times to say how much player support weighed into the decision.

"It's very hard (to wait for that long), but I can't think of anyone who could handle it better than Jim," Polian said. "He's right straight down the middle. He doesn't worry about things he can't control. I thought he did a terrific job during that period of time in Indy, and a terrific job this time around."

-- Download the Detroit Lions MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow MLive Sports on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram