Lions Find Their Man For GM Post In Rams' Brad Holmes

It appears all the Detroit Lions need now is a coach, and maybe a few more good players, but they are finally bringing in someone charged with finding all those things. Multiple reports say Brad Holmes has been hired as the new general manager.

Holmes comes from the Los Angeles Rams, where he served as the team's director of college scouting. Holmes has spent his entire career with the Rams, starting as a public relations intern in 2003. He moved to the scouting side a year later and was hired to his current position in 2013.

Holmes, 41, will now be among the youngest GMs in the NFL. He reportedly agreed to a five-year contract.

"A keen eye for talent, Holmes played a massive role in the Rams adding starting talent through the draft during his tenure in LA," wrote Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "Despite defections, the Rams remained a deep club in 2020, leaning on rookies and in several spots."

Now, Holmes will be tasked with fixing a team that rarely finds itself in the conversations about contenders. It starts at coach and extends all the way to quarterback, with the status of Matthew Stafford in doubt. The Lions' defense also stinks.

"As for the Rams, they will become the first team to benefit from the NFL's new rule, passed in November, which compensates teams that groom minority head coaches and GMs," Patra noted. "With Holmes signing in Detroit, the Rams will receive a compensatory third-round draft pick each of the next two years."

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.