By Moses Joshua 
How a Fateful Internship Decision Set Detroit Up for Future Glory
In an ironic twist of fate, Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes believes that the team’s recent success may never have happened if he had joined their staff back in 2003. Instead, he turned down an internship with Detroit, accepted one with the then-St. Louis Rams—and unknowingly set the Lions on a path that would eventually bring him back, far better equipped to transform their franchise.
A Fork in the Road: The Internship That Changed Everything
Back in 2003, Holmes was anything but the rising executive fans know today. He was working as a PR intern for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, still reeling from rejection after applying to all 32 NFL teams for a scouting job the year before. He was determined, persistent—and still waiting for someone to give him a shot.
That break came when Duane Lewis, PR Director for the Rams, offered Holmes an internship. But what most don’t know is that Holmes had already said “yes” to another team: the Detroit Lions. As he recounted on the Field Talk Podcast, he had accepted Detroit’s offer and was preparing to begin work when he took a closer look at the track record of both organizations.
“I remember reading the bios of team staff,” Holmes shared. “And I noticed something—Rams interns were getting hired on. The Lions didn’t have that pattern.”
It was a subtle insight, but one that would change the course of his life—and, years later, the Lions’ trajectory as well.
Detroit’s Loss Becomes Its Future Gain
Holmes’ ultimate decision to join the Rams instead of the Lions paid dividends—first for himself, then for Detroit. He transitioned from PR to scouting within a year, eventually rising to Director of College Scouting, learning the inner workings of a successful front office from leaders like Les Snead.
Had he remained with the Lions, then helmed by CEO and GM Matt Millen during a historically poor 31-81 stretch, Holmes believes his career might have stalled. “At best, I would’ve been a PR intern for a year and then out,” he reflected. “No guarantee I’d ever get another shot—especially not with the Rams.”
His time with the Rams proved transformative. He not only honed his talent evaluation skills, but became known for spotting potential deep in the draft—an ability that would later shape the Lions’ roster.
Full Circle: How the Lions Found Their Builder
Years after Holmes first turned down Detroit, he came back—this time not as an intern, but as the man in charge of reshaping their football future. Following a recommendation from Rams leadership, he participated in a video interview for an NFL leadership program designed to groom future general managers. The interview didn’t go as planned.
“I prepared for business questions,” Holmes recalled. “Instead, it was pure football talk. I bombed it.”
Yet the tape survived. When the Lions were later searching for a new GM, team COO Mike Disner came across that very interview. This time, Holmes was ready. Detroit brought him in—and he began the painstaking work of turning a long-floundering franchise into a contender.
The Irony of the Long Game
Today, Holmes is credited as one of the key architects behind the Lions’ back-to-back division titles and their long-awaited return to the NFC Championship Game. But he’s keenly aware of how narrowly this reality came to be.
“If I’d gone to Detroit in 2003, I probably wouldn’t be here now,” he admitted. “Not in this seat. Not with this team. Not like this.”
The irony is hard to miss: by losing him to the Rams two decades ago, the Lions unknowingly set the stage for their own rebirth. Sometimes, losing the right person at the wrong time is exactly what it takes to win in the end.