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As the Detroit Lions season came to a close and Jim Caldwell's status with the team became unclear, players' support for their head coach was bursting at the seams. It was obvious most players wanted to retain Caldwell for as long as possible. When news of his retention became public Friday morning, players could not help but explode with emotion.
Like most if my fridaysssssssssss! They just keep getting BETTER! THAT'S! WHAT! IM! TALKING! ABOUT! https://t.co/k9ki72Jmro
— theo riddick (@Riddick6) January 15, 2016
Yeeeessssssssssssss! https://t.co/kR77x1XyWJ
— Sam (@SamMartin_6) January 15, 2016
So excited to see Coach Caldwell will return to coach this team. In such little time he's taught me so much. Truly a remarkable man. #WROH
— Ameer Abdullah (@Ameerguapo) January 15, 2016
#Lions #dowork #defendtheden https://t.co/B4eENXJxEK
— Darryl Tapp (@dtapp55) January 15, 2016
Text from one Lions vet on Jim Caldwell staying on: "Well deserved, he's a great coach and leader of men!!"
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 15, 2016
Caldwell? YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!
— Ezekiel Ansah (@Ziggy_Ansah) January 15, 2016
With Him Still At The Helm. We Are Destined To Go Far. #OurYear
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) January 15, 2016
UPDATE: More players are expressing their support for the decision:
Coach Caldwell has done more for our team, our players, and the city than people can imagin..he deserves to be back we're all stoked for em
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 15, 2016
Because we fought as brothers, this shit became more than JUST Football We became family. THEN We Started WINNING. https://t.co/mVBLt7j9wD
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) January 15, 2016
The players' support for Caldwell comes as no surprise, and, in fact, may have had a lot to do with Bob Quinn's decision to keep him around. "It’s clear to me that this team believes in him and responds positively to his leadership," Quinn said in his public statement Friday morning. Caldwell will get the chance to turn that leadership back into a winning record in 2016.