The Detroit Lions are expected to hire Matt Patricia as head coach.

The Lions still need to finalize contract terms with Patricia after the Patriots' season ends.

Patricia, who has been defensive coordinator of the Patriots since 2012, has also been a candidate with the New York Giants.

Detroit general manager Bob Quinn worked with Patricia when he was in the New England front office.

The Detroit Lions reportedly prefer to hire Matt Patricia as head coach with Mike Vrabel as their backup choice. Patricia is believed to prefer the New York Giants' job.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that "all signs" point to the Giants hiring Patricia.

Patricia has been defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots since 2012.

Patricia has been a candidate for other head coaching jobs in recent years.

Steve Wilks of the Panthers is also a candidate.

Teryl Austin has agreed to become the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Austin was most recently defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.

The Oakland Raiders also pushed to hire Austin.

The Detroit Lions fired Jim Caldwell despite finishing 2017 with a winning record.

Since 1978, 16 teams with a winning record fired their head coach. In 94 percent of the cases, the team brought back its head coach. Four of the coaches that were fired (Art Shell, Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith and Caldwell) were black. There have only been 17 black head coaches who have coached at least one entire season but 23.5 percent of them were fired from winning teams.

Since 1978, there have been 174 white head coaches and only 12 (6.9 percent) were fired from a winning team.

The NFL has five teams ranking in the top-10 in DVOA on both Offense and Defense at the end of the regular season in the Vikings, Rams, Saints, Steelers and Eagles.

The Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, Falcons and Patriots also rank in the top-10 on offense, while the Jaguars, Broncos, Panthers, Ravens and Cardinals rank in the top-10 on defense.

The Detroit Lions have hired Jim Caldwell as head coach after four seasons.

Caldwell had winning seasons in three of his four years in Detroit. 

"I believe Jim is one of the finest leaders we've ever had as our head coach," Lions owner and chairman Martha Firestone Ford said in a statement. "Not only did he guide us on the field to three winning seasons, but he also set a standard of excellence off the field that had a tremendous impact on everyone in our organization and our entire community. As many of our players have already said, his influence on them transcended the game of football and will positively serve them throughout their lives.

"Our organization is better because of Jim, and we are forever grateful."

The Lions have interest in Steve Wilks of the Panthers and Matt Patricia of the Patriots.

Teryl Austin will also interview for the job.