The Detroit Lions aren't just thinking about working on a contract extension for wide receiver Calvin Johnson. They are also planning on giving one to head coach Jim Schwartz, who only has one year left on his deal. After taking a team that went 0-16 to 10-6 and the playoffs in just three seasons, it's no surprise Martin Mayhew wants to give Schwartz a new deal of his own.

"We plan to try working on that in the next couple of weeks or so," Mayhew said.

Schwartz went 2-14 in his first year and 6-10 in 2010 thanks to a four-game winning streak to close out the season. In 2011, Schwartz enjoyed four more wins in the preseason and five straight victories to open the regular season. Although the Lions went through a rough patch in the middle of the season, they finished 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Schwartz became the first Lions coach to lead the team to the playoffs since Bobby Ross. Gary Moeller, who took over for Ross during the 2000 season, just barely missed out on the playoffs. Then the Matt Millen era began and Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci, interim coach Dick Jauron and Rod Marinelli all failed to even come close to making the playoffs. To say the least, a playoff appearance had been a long time coming, and Schwartz is about to be rewarded for being the head coach to end that drought.