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Lions Hire Jim Caldwell As Head Coach

(CBS) The Lions ended their head coaching search Tuesday by hiring Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell to the position.

Caldwell was previously the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11, succeeding Tony Dungy after spending eight years on Dungy's staff in both Indianapolis and Tampa. He took the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, including a Super Bowl loss to the Saints. But in 2011, the Colts went just 2-14 without quarterback Peyton Manning and Caldwell was let go at the end of the season.

Caldwell immediately was hired by the Ravens as quarterback coach and took over as offensive coordinator in December of 2012 after Cam Cameron was fired. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl last January.

Caldwell figures to work closely with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in Detroit. Stafford has long been lauded for possessing talent but committing too many mistakes in key situations.

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