Lions select former MEAC athlete as EVP and GM

By Angela Jones

Greensboro, N.C. — The Detroit Lions recently announced that North Carolina A&T alumnus Brad Holmes will serve as their next Executive Vice President and General Manager. The 41-year-old will report directly to Principal Owner and Chairwoman Sheila Ford Hamp and CEO Rod Wood while overseeing football operations.

Hamp released the following statement: “On behalf of the entire Lions organization, I am thrilled to welcome Brad Holmes to Detroit. Several weeks ago when we embarked on this process, it was critical that we find the right person to fit our vision for this team. It was evident early on that Brad is a proven leader who is ready for this opportunity. We are thrilled to introduce him to our fans as a member of our football family.”

According to N.C. A&T Athletics Department, Holmes, a Tampa Florida native, turned down scholarships from Bethune Cookman and Florida A&M to attend A&T where he excelled. As team captain, not only did he help A&T win the 1999 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Black College Football National Championship, he also graduated cum laude with a B.S. in journalism and mass communications.

Holmes’ skills, learned on and off the field at N.C. A&T, assisted in propelling his career to the next level. “Throughout our search for a new general manager, Brad was someone who stood out immediately,” said Lions President and CEO Rod Wood. “His abilities as a critical thinker, along with his extensive experience implementing technology and analytics into his approach to scouting, were among the many decisive qualities Brad displayed in our time getting to know him during the interview process. We look forward to him helping lead our organization as we take the next steps as a team.”

Prior to joining the Lions, Holmes worked with the Los Angels Rams for 18 years where he was significantly involved in acquiring current players like defensive tackle Aaron Donald, quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and safety John Johnson.

Holmes joins other HBCU greats in becoming general managers of major professional sports franchises including North Carolina A&T standout Al Attles, who served as general manager of the Golden State Warriors, and Florida A&M University alumnus Bill Lucas, who was general manager of the Atlanta Braves.T