Report: Lions Expected to Hire Rams Exec Brad Holmes, Ending Kevin Colbert Speculation
he Detroit Lions are expected to hire Los Angeles Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes as their next general manager, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN, effectively ending speculation that the organization was pursuing Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert for the role.
Lions expected to hire Los Angeles Rams' director of college scouting Brad Holmes as their new general manager, per source. They are finalizing a multi-year deal.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2021
Colbert had been linked to the Lions for weeks, with multiple reports claiming the organization was infatuated with the Steelers general manager and actively courting him for their vacancy.
Those rumblings culminated Wednesday when Mike Stone of 97.1-FM The Ticket in Detroit reported Colbert and the Lions were close to a deal.
Ensuing reporting by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac contradicted Stone’s claim, saying the Lions had never reached out to the Steelers with an official interview request.
Just a day later, it appears Detroit has found their man in Holmes, and Colbert will remain in Pittsburgh. His current one-year contract runs through April’s draft.
According to ESPN, the Lions and Holmes, 41, have agreed to a five-year deal to make him the franchise’s new general manager.
Holmes’ hiring also means the Rams will be the first organization to be beneficiaries of the NFL’s new hiring initiatives for developing minority general manager and coaching candidates.
Los Angeles will receive a pair of compensatory third-round draft picks for developing Holmes, who began with the Rams as a public relations intern in 2003 and spent his entire career with the franchise.
Lions get the general manager they wanted…and the Rams now will become the first team to receive two third-round compensatory draft picks as part of the NFL's new hiring initiatives. https://t.co/BTk1zsjRne
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2021
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