A 4-12 record wasn’t enough to get Lions coach Jim Schwartz fired, but it did cost three members of his staff.
According to Anwar Richardson of MLive.com, the Lions have fired wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, running backs coach Sam Gash and tight ends coach Tim Lappano.
While it’s easy to wonder what Jefferson did, considering one of his players, Calvin Johnson, set the league’s all-time single-season receiving yardage record, there were issues.
Jefferson and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had a sideline exchange over play-calling during a loss to the Packers, arguing over Johnson’s usage in the red zone.
And considering Schwartz just gave Linehan a glowing recommendation, it was easy to see whose side he took.
UPDATE 5:47 p.m. ET: Richardson has updated his previous report to say that Lappano was not fired, but Jefferson and Gash were still, in fact, fired. They have also fired offensive line coach George Yarno, so they’re still down three.