Matt Patricia’s tenure as head coach of the Detroit Lions was so bad by every measure that it’s still hard to believe it was less than three seasons. His attempt to bring “The Patriot Way” to Detroit with then general manager Bob Quinn was a colossal failure, to say the least.

Dan Campbell was clearly looking for the opposite of what they had with the return of Chris Spielman to the organization and with Brad Holmes as general manager. He was hired to replace Patricia as the Lions’ head coach in 2021. After a slow start for about a season and six months and a profession of faith from owner Sheila Ford Hamp, results have emerged under Campbell’s guidance.

Patricia has made a move into media, working with The 33rd Team and on a podcast with his former boss Bill Belichick.

Before Thursday night’s game between the Lions and Green Bay Packers, Patricia appeared on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.” The appearance sparked expected anger from Lions fans, but Patricia had nothing but good things to say about the city he used to work in and the franchise he once worked for.

“I love Detroit. I’m so happy for the fans,” Patricia said, via Kory Woods of MLive. “That fan base…when you take a job and go to a city, all you really want to do as a coach is win. You want to win for the people who really want to have it and experience it. And I’m for Dan and his staff and the players that are there (and) for the responsibility. The city is burning right now. It’s great. It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s incredible what they do.”

“I love the way they play the game,” Patricia said (h/t to 97.1 The Ticket). “(What) Dan built, the culture he brought, the toughness he has there. I love the offense, I love the offense, Hank Fraley, what he did with those guys, and certainly Ben Johnson, what he was. “They’re able to handle the offense, the defense plays well, but I think they are a well-coached team. He does a great job.”

“I mean, I love it, I think it’s great,” Patricia said. “Who doesn’t want the Lions to win?” That was ages ago. Let’s go, let’s win!”

Offensive coach Hank Fraley and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson were hired by Patricia and retained by Campbell on the Lions’ coaching staff. Ultimately, however, the former Lions head coach didn’t let that stop him from praising his successor.

“Give credit to Dan Campbell for what he did to get the entire building to follow what he wanted them to do, believe in what they preached, go out there (and) work hard,” said Patricia. “We all know what it’s like in the NFL when you’re just in it – you have a little bit of success and you get a little bit of that belief. Look, everyone is doing well in the NFL. They are great football players.”

“Sometimes you just need a little spark, a little faith,” Patricia added. “And we’ve seen that with individual guys going out. “All of a sudden you make a play and you become a great player in the league. This is no different for any other team. If you make a play, you get through one of those games that are tough and have a little bit of adversity. (Then) the spark goes over. Now you win. Everyone thinks they’re buying in, you build that momentum, and that’s the beauty of it. It’s great.”

Patricia was unable to help Detroit win, and he left a culture in Campbell that needed a complete reorientation. But despite the team’s current success and the fact that it has been four years since his firing, Lions fans will clearly never let go of their hatred.