Darrell Bevell is rapidly approaching the end of his tenure as the interim head coach of the Detroit Lions. Bevell and the rest of the coaching staff are prepping for Sunday’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings with the knowledge that it’s likely the last time they will do anything as an employee of the Lions.
Bevell has been grateful for the opportunity to lead the team since head coach Matt Patricia was sent packing after Week 12. The audition to remain hasn’t exactly gone as well as hoped for Bevell. The Lions have won once under Bevell, the first game against the Chicago Bears.
The interim coach remains appreciative of each moment he gets in his first-ever head coaching opportunity.
“I’ve been pouring everything into this week. Obviously, I wasn’t even in the building last week, so it gives you that moment to kind of step back where you know how special these moments are, so I want to be in it,” Bevell told reporters on Friday. “I’m living this moment day to day, I’m talking to the players day to day, loving every minute of this opportunity. The future happens in the future. If we worry about that, we can lose track. So, I’m just excited about this day.”
Last Sunday’s lifeless loss to Tampa Bay was one of the lowest points for the franchise. It was a game Bevell and several assistants watched remotely after being deemed close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case. It gave him a quick minute to appreciate the experience,
“I appreciate the opportunities that I’ve had to learn each and every one of these experiences. It’s just been a whirlwind of five weeks.”