In a major shift behind the scenes for the Detroit Lions, Mike Martin, the team’s director of scouting advancement for the past four years, is departing for a new role as the general manager at Notre Dame. According to ESPN, Martin is heading to South Bend to help head coach Marcus Freeman and his team implement an “NFL model” to the Fighting Irish program.
Martin joined the Lions when head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes arrived in Detroit. Prior to this, he had a strong scouting background, having worked with the Carolina Panthers before taking on roles in the Texans’ front office for 11 years, including assistant director of college scouting, national scout, and college scout. He also spent four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and started his career as an intern with the Tennessee Titans in 2002. Martin, a former defensive back at Vanderbilt, brings valuable playing experience to his new role.
The Lions have seen significant changes this offseason, with the departure of offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as several assistant coaches who followed Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to new opportunities. Last year, the front office also experienced turnover, with Lance Newmark, the former senior director of player personnel, and Brandon Sosna, the former senior director of football administration, moving on to the Washington Commanders. Additionally, Dave Sears, the Lions’ director of college scouting, was hired by the Arizona Cardinals.
Martin’s exit marks the first notable departure this offseason. He had been a key figure in the Lions’ success, with general manager Brad Holmes often praising Martin’s contributions during draft season. “Martin was an integral part of constructing a 2023 roster that helped the Lions to a 12-5 record, tying the single-season franchise record for wins in a season,” the Lions stated on their official website.
As the Lions continue to evolve, Martin’s departure marks another significant change within the organization. His next chapter at Notre Dame brings a fresh opportunity for both him and the Fighting Irish.
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Report: Detroit Lions Add Ex-NFL Quarterback with 11-Year Career to Coaching Staff
In a recent development, the Detroit Lions have brought in former NFL quarterback Bruce Gradkowski as part of their 2025 coaching staff.
The news was first reported by Adam Schefter, revealing that Gradkowski has been hired as an offensive coaching assistant for the Lions. A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Gradkowski entered the league as a sixth-round pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006. Throughout his career, he played for several teams and started 20 games, throwing for 4,057 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions on 375 completions out of 709 attempts.
For the last two seasons, Gradkowski has served as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks in both the XFL and UFL. In 2023, under his leadership, the Battlehawks finished second in scoring in the XFL with an average of 24.9 points per game. They maintained that strong offensive performance in 2024, staying second in the UFL with 26.0 points per game, just trailing the eventual champions, the Birmingham Stallions (26.5 PPG).
As of now, it’s unclear what exact position Gradkowski will hold with the Lions—whether it will be a general offensive assistant role or a more specific one. Notably, the Lions’ assistant quarterbacks coach position is open, following J.T. Barrett‘s departure to become the Chicago Bears‘ quarterbacks coach after Ben Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, made the move to the Bears as well.
While there doesn’t appear to be a direct connection between Gradkowski and the Lions’ current coaching staff, it’s worth mentioning that he was briefly with the St. Louis Rams during their 2008 training camp, a time when Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes was a scout for the Rams.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the latest updates on the Lions’ 2025 coaching staff.
