By Moses Joshua 
Lions Announce Major Updates to Player Personnel, Football Operations Staffs
Detroit continues to build from the top, reinforcing its front office and operations staff with fresh expertise and rising talent.
A Strategic Shift Behind the Scenes
The Detroit Lions aren’t just making noise on the field — they’re also making strategic moves off of it. On Monday, the team announced a sweeping series of updates to both its player personnel and football operations departments, reinforcing its commitment to long-term growth through strong leadership and innovation behind the scenes.
As the Lions prepare for a highly anticipated 2025 campaign, the front office is bolstering every layer of its support structure — from scouting to player engagement to advanced analytics.
Strengthening the Scouting Core
In the player personnel department, several key additions and promotions were unveiled:
- Don Corzine steps into a dual role as Director of Scouting Operations / Special Assistant to the General Manager. With decades of football experience, Corzine’s influence is expected to further streamline scouting protocols and strategic decision-making.
- Michael Pelfrey has been named Manager of Scouting Advancement, signaling a focus on modernizing talent evaluation processes.
- Austin White and Bri Howard join the team as Personnel Assistants, offering essential support to both pro and college scouting.
- Brandon Crank, a new Scouting Assistant, brings energy to the evaluation process.
- Evan Ford joins the team as the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellow, a prestigious and developmental role for future scouting leaders.
These updates reflect Detroit’s growing emphasis on blending seasoned football minds with a fresh, data-informed approach to player assessment.
Football Operations Gets a Modern Upgrade
The Lions also announced several high-impact appointments within the football operations staff, aimed at maximizing player performance, well-being, and data-driven decision-making.
- Jessica Gray has been named Senior Director of Player Engagement, continuing the franchise’s efforts to support athletes off the field.
- Caio Brighenti becomes Director of Football Information, a role critical for integrating performance data, film analysis, and operational logistics.
- Scott Nealon takes over as Director of Performance Nutrition, emphasizing the role of diet in recovery and athletic excellence.
- Paul Ibrahim has been appointed Lead Decision Science Analyst, helping translate analytics into strategic football outcomes.
- Haley English joins as Lead Advance Scouting Analyst, a key role in game-planning and opponent analysis.
- Brandon Harlin steps into the role of Player Engagement Coordinator, offering day-to-day mentorship and personal development support.
- Lauren Crawford is now Team Operations Assistant, aiding in the coordination of team logistics and daily operations.
Commitment to Culture and Competitive Edge
By investing heavily in both personnel and operations staff, the Lions are signaling their commitment to sustainable success. These moves reflect a front office that understands success is not just measured by wins and losses, but also by preparation, planning, and the people behind the players.
As General Manager Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell look to lead the team deeper into playoff contention, these behind-the-scenes additions could be just as vital to Detroit’s future as the talent on the field.