Detroit Lions adding experienced GM Chris Grier in front office role

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Allen Park — The Detroit Lions are adding an experienced GM with a college scouting background to the team's front office, bringing aboard longtime Dolphins general manager Chris Grier in a senior personnel role.

The news was first reported by ESPN and has been confirmed by a team source.

The addition of Grier is the latest change at the top levels of Detroit’s front office, which has seen a steady stream of movement during general manager Brad Holmes’ tenure.

When Holmes was hired in 2021, he brought in assistant general manager Ray Agnew, former Chiefs and Browns general manager John Dorsey in a senior personnel role, and scout Mike Martin as director of scouting advancement.

Following a successful rebuild, Detroit saw the departures of college scouting director Dave Sears, director of player personnel Lance Newmark and Martin.

Sears joined the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant general manager in 2023 and Newmark landed the same title with the Washington Commanders a year later. As for Martin, he was poached by Notre Dame in 2025, where he serves as the program’s general manager.

Sears' role was backfilled by Brian Hudspeth, formerly the team’s assistant college scouting director. Newmark and Martin’s positions weren’t directly replaced, although the team did bring in Dwayne Joseph, the former Raiders director of pro scouting, to serve as the director of scouting.

According to a team source, Grier’s addition isn’t viewed as a direct replacement of a previous or pending departure.

Grier got his scouting start with the New England Patriots in 1994, working alongside his father, Bobby.

Grier left the organization following the hiring of Bill Belichick, jumping to division rival Miami in 2000. He was promoted to national scout and assistant college scouting director after three seasons, college scouting director after another four, and eventually earned the team’s general manager role in 2016.

At the helm, Grier produced mixed results, compiling an 82-83 record that included a trio of playoff appearances. Among Grier’s notable draft picks are offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, cornerback Xavien Howard, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, linebacker Jerome Baker, edge defender Andrew Van Ginkel, guard Robert Hunt, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, safety Javon Holland, edge defender Jaelen Phillips and running back De’Von Achane.

Grier’s final first-round pick as the Dolphins GM was used on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.

Grier’s track record in free agency has been less impressive. He's found a handful of gems, most notably center Aaron Brewer in 2024, but had big whiffs on Kyle Van Noy, Ereck Flowers and cornerback Byron Jones.

Arguably Greer’s biggest move as general manager was a 2022 trade for wide receiver Tyreek Hill, which coincided with the hiring of coach Mike McDaniel. Paired with Waddle, the team’s 2021 first-round pick, and Achane, a third-round selection the next year, the Dolphins were the NFL’s most-explosive offense in 2023, leading the league in yards and finishing second in scoring.

However, injuries, including Tagovailoa in 2024 and Hill in 2025, led to the team’s decline and the eventual departure of Grier last October and McDaniel a few months later.

Of note, Grier's father, Bobby, previously overlapped with multiple members of Detroit’s front office, including Hudspeth, the team’s director of college scouting, and Rob Lohman, the team’s director of pro scouting. Both Lions executives worked with the elder Grier in Houston for multiple years, with Hudspeth listing Bobby as one of his scouting mentors.

Bobby passed away last September.

Chris’ brother, Mike, played a long career in the NHL and currently serves as the general manager for the San Jose Sharks.