Report: Lions head coach Jim Caldwell only has 1 year remaining on contract, fate to be decided after season

Jim Caldwell’s seat may be even hotter than expected.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Detroit Lions head coach is much more vulnerable to be fired after this season than previously thought. Though Caldwell’s offseason extension had been reported as a “multi-year” deal, Rapoport wrote on Sunday that that wasn’t exactly accurate.

“Caldwell’s extension is merely for one year, sources say, with an option following next season,” Rapoport said.

In other words, Caldwell’s extension only puts him through the 2018 season, but gives the Lions an option to extend his contract another year, if they want.

Back in September, team president Rod Wood confirmed reports that Caldwell’s deal was not just for a single year. “It’s a multi-year extension,” Wood said without explaining further. But if Rapoport’s sources are true, then that appears to be a half-truth from Wood.

Of course, none of this guarantees that Caldwell will survive the upcoming offseason. In fact, if his contract truly does only go through 2018, it means the Lions could potentially part ways with Caldwell with less money on the hook.

According to Rapoport, the Lions will determine Caldwell’s fate after the 2017 season is over. “The Lions haven’t made a decision on Caldwell’s future, nor will they until this season end,” Rapoport said. But with only one year remaining on his contract, that decision may be a little easier than previously thought.