Detroit Lions Lose Another Front Office Member to the College Ranks
The Detroit Lions are dealing with yet another departure from their front office. After losing director of scouting advancement Mike Martin to Notre Dame last week, the team is now saying goodbye to another key executive.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Lions’ Director of Football Compliance/Lead Football Counsel, Jon Dykema, is heading to Michigan State. He’ll take on a new role as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Management and Assistant General Counsel.
Dykema’s New Role at Michigan State
Dykema’s responsibilities at MSU will center around negotiating and managing athletic contracts—a crucial job in today’s college sports landscape, especially with the complexities of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. Given his legal and administrative background, he seems like a natural fit for the role.
A Michigan State alum, Dykema’s ties to the Spartans run deep. He graduated in 2003 and even worked as a student manager for the men’s basketball team during their 2000 national championship season. His journey since then has taken him through law school at the University of Akron and a variety of legal and administrative roles, including a stint as the director of men’s basketball operations at the University of Utah before joining the Lions.
What Dykema Meant to the Lions
Dykema spent over a decade with the Lions, taking on a variety of roles related to legal affairs, player contracts, salary cap management, analytics, and CBA compliance. His work wasn’t just limited to football operations—he also played a role in HIPAA compliance and government relations for the organization.
His expertise made him a valuable asset, and his departure marks yet another significant offseason loss for Detroit. The Lions have already had to adjust after losing key assistant coaches, and now they’re seeing movement in the front office as well.
A Changing Offseason for Detroit
With this latest departure, the Lions have now seen two key staff members leave for the college ranks in just a week. While front office turnover is common in the NFL, the timing of these exits—right as the team looks to build on a historic 15-win season—raises some questions.
Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have maintained a strong culture in Detroit, and they’ll undoubtedly find ways to fill the gaps left by Martin and Dykema. But as the Lions continue to push toward becoming a perennial contender, keeping stability in the front office will be just as important as maintaining the roster on the field.
For now, all eyes are on how the team will move forward as they prepare for the 2025 season.
Another Loss for the Lions: Front Office Exec Heads to College Ranks
