Few NFL coaching assistants enjoyed a better second half of the 2015 season than Jim Bob Cooter, and the Lions offensive coordinator is being rewarded for his work. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Detroit is retaining Cooter as the club’s permanent OC for 2016.
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Cooter took over as the Lions’ offensive coordinator when the team parted ways with Joe Lombardi in October. At the time of the move, the Lions had stumbled to a 1-6 record, and rumors about Matthew Stafford‘s uncertain future in Detroit were swirling. The quarterback had thrown 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions to go along with an 86.8 rating through seven games.
From that point on, Stafford and the Lions’ offense took off. The team won six of its final nine games, with Stafford completing 69% of his passes and putting up a 105.1 rating, along with 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
With Jim Caldwell having been retained as the Lions’ head coach for the 2016 season by new general manager Bob Quinn, the team hadn’t been expected to make a change at offensive coordinator, so Rapoport’s report doesn’t come as a real surprise.
Before becoming the Lions’ offensive coordinator in the fall, Cooter served as the team’s quarterbacks coach. The 31-year-old has also worked for the Colts, Chiefs, and Broncos in various assistant roles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.