Brad Holmes is hired by the Steelers to be their head coach.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers to be their head coach.
The Lions’ recovery has been greatly aided by the third-year general manager. Before the 2021 season, he moved to Detroit with head coach Dan Campbell.
Just two seasons after the squad finished 3-13-1 in their first season together, Holmes has staged a turnaround that has put the team in the NFC Championship game.
For the first time, Detroit won two playoff games in the same season after finishing 12-5 in the regular season. By earning their first division title since 1993 and their first playoff game since the 1991 season, the team has ended two protracted droughts.
He dealt franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams in return for Jared Goff and a ton of draft picks, which was one of his first major transactions as general manager.
Over the last three seasons, Holmes has proven himself as a draft guru by acquiring a number of exceptional and vital players. He has acquired multiple important players for the club in the middle rounds in addition to selecting important players in the first round.
Specifically, in the third round of the 2021 Draft, Holmes picked Ifeatu Melifonwu and Alim McNeill, two important defensive contributors. He selected Derrick Barnes and Amon-Ra St. Brown with consecutive picks in the same year.
All four of his first-round draft choices this season have turned into starters. Both Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs, the running backs, are finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Brian Branch and Jack Campbell are key members of the defense.
“We go through a really comprehensive process,” offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “He leads the entire process, of course, and it’s a cooperative one in which the coaching staff shares their thoughts about where we are, our strengths and shortcomings, and areas for improvement early in the summer.”
“He listens to everything and looks to tackle the problems head-on. Johnson added that he and the head coach are always in complete agreement when it comes to the draft. “As a personnel staff and coaching staff, when you fall in love with a player, then I believe what we’ve seen over the last three years is he’s ready to go out and grab those guys, regardless of what the clamor from outside might say.”
He selected edge rusher James Houston with a sixth-round pick in 2022 and starting safety Kerby Joseph with a third-round selection.
Under Holmes’ direction, the Lions have become a serious title challenger with a core that is primarily composed of young, drafted players.
Before moving to Detroit, Holmes was the Los Angeles Rams’ director of college scouting.
