The Lions Keep Changing—But One Familiar Face Is Back in the NFL
It’s been a wild offseason for the Detroit Lions. First, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become the Bears’ new head coach. Then defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took the same gig with the Jets. And if that wasn’t enough, longtime center Frank Ragnow retired. As OTAs kick off, the Lions are juggling a lot.
But the front office has had its own kind of shakeup. A former staffer who had recently bounced to the college world is already heading back to the NFL.
Jon Dykema, former Lions exec, is reportedly joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Dykema had just started a new role at Michigan State earlier this year as senior athletic director and assistant general counsel. He was doing everything from negotiating sponsorship deals to handling NIL contracts and media rights. Basically, he had his hands in all the important off-field stuff.
A Michigan State alum and former student manager during the Spartans’ 2000 basketball title run, Dykema seemed hyped about the MSU job at the time. But just a few months in, something clearly changed.
Before his short college stint, Dykema was a steady presence in Detroit’s front office for 15 years. He spent the last four as the Lions’ director of football compliance and lead football counsel. His behind-the-scenes work might not have made headlines, but it definitely helped the Lions’ rise—like their trip to the NFC Championship and that impressive 15-2 season in 2023.
Now, he’s off to Jacksonville. His exact role with the Jaguars isn’t clear yet, but one thing’s obvious—Dykema couldn’t stay away from the NFL for long.
