ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions have fired Brayden Coombs, special teams coordinator.
The team announced the move on Monday, a day after falling to 1-2 under interim coach Darrell Bevell and 5-9 overall this season with a 46-25 defeat to the Titans.
The unit briefly lost against Tennessee on a fake kick at 4th-and-4 on Detroit 31 on Sunday. CJ Moore took the direct hit and was stopped three feet from the marker by the Titans.
The decision appears to have been made by Coombs without consulting Bevell.
“When we’re going to say, ‘Hey, we’re doing this,’ I feel like it’s important that I keep doing that,” said Bevell. “And sometimes when it goes the other way around, there are times when you can really help or hurt yourself, and I thought this was really an important moment.”
USA Today reported that competition sources maintained that Coombs was not a good match culturally, was often late to meetings, and considered a self-promoter.
‘I don’t want to use those words of mine. We’re just moving on, ”Bevell said when asked about other issues.
Former Detroit coach Matt Patricia hired Coombs in January after spending 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last month, the Lions fired Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn.
Detroit has had a tough time this season, but it has been relatively strong on special teams under 34-year-old Coombs.
Detroit hosts Tampa Bay on Saturday (9-5).