Former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders has said that he does not believe that the team is far from being a contender in the NFL.

The Lions were leading the race for the NFC in the first half of the season, but won just one of their final seven games in 2013 to miss a place in the playoffs, resulting in head coach Jim Schwartz being fired.

Sanders told reporters: "Obviously, a lot of Lions fans were looking for [a coaching change]. They wanted a change, and the guys in the room making the decision thought that was the case. And I can certainly see reasons why they would. I hope Coach Caldwell's the guy.

"Hey look, we're hoping for great things. We know that we have a lot of firepower assembled on that team and certainly offensively.

"Hopefully Coach Caldwell can bring that offense to the top of the league and bring it all together. We're not that far away."

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell has been placed in charge of the team for the 2014 season.