Jim Caldwell to remain as Lions' head coach

Thursday's gutting of the Detroit Lions won't include the team's embattled head coach.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Jim Caldwell has been informed that he will keep his job despite guiding the Lions to a 1-7 record, per a team source. Lions owner Martha Ford later confirmed that no changes will be made to the team's coaching staff.

Caldwell's status was in doubt after Ford fired general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand on Thursday.

In what a Lions source described to Rapoport as a "total wipeout" of the organization's leadership structure, Detroit's ownership has made it crystal clear that the woeful Lions are in for a comprehensive reboot.

Keeping Caldwell might have more to do with the lack of a trustworthy -- or willing -- interim leader. Outside of senior coaching assistant Gunther Cunningham, Detroit's staff has nobody with head-coaching experience. Linebackers coach Bill Sheridan and defensive line aide Jim Washburn have been around the block, but Caldwell likely lobbied to see it through.

We fully expect Caldwell to be looking for work after this wretched campaign in Detroit mercifully draws to a close.