Menu
Franchises

The Mighty Quinn: Lions Hire Patriots Scouting Dir As New GM, Marking Shift In Direction

The Lions found their "top choice in less than a week," agreeing in principle Friday to hire Patriots Scouting Dir Bob Quinn as their new GM, according to Josh Katzenstein of the DETROIT NEWS. Quinn was "among the four candidates" in the search, which "was led by former NFL GM Ernie Accorsi." Quinn will report to Lions President Rod Wood and Owner Martha Ford (DETROIT NEWS, 1/10). ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein noted Quinn "had spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, working his way up over 16 years." He replaces Martin Mayhew, who was fired in November (ESPN.com, 1/8). The DETROIT NEWS' Katzenstein wrote one of the first tasks for Quinn will be to "determine the status" of Lions coach Jim Caldwell, who "has two years left" on a contract he signed in January '14 (DETROIT NEWS, 1/10).

SHORT AND SWEET: Katzenstein wrote the GM search consisted of "just three interviews," which was "similar to other searches" led by Accorsi. The Lions also interviewed interim GM Sheldon White and Giants Assistant GM Kevin Abrams. Accorsi has "typically kept his candidate pool small" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/10). In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski wrote the Lions "finally opted for something other than familiarity or flash." The Lions "plucked young talent from the best organization in football, the most-compelling sign yet they’re serious about profound change." Hiring Quinn is the type of move the Lions "absolutely had to make, and they did it swiftly." The Lions in 48 previous years "never hired a GM with football-evaluation experience away from another team." Wojnowski: "Quinn’s arrival doesn’t wipe away all the skepticism, but it is completely different, and we’re about to find out how different" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/10).

COME ALL WITHOUT: The DETROIT NEWS' Katzenstein notes the Ford family and Wood supported Quinn and "made the hire official Friday night." Accorsi: "It was unanimous on him. Everybody might’ve had their own reasons. They all did work on him. They all asked questions about him. They all met him, and they all knew where he came from" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/11). Accorsi: "You want somebody that’s going to win and you want somebody who can be a leader and that people can work with. That’s basically the criteria I used. I mean, that’s what I wanted. I wanted somebody that was going to be successful for them, but (also) somebody who would be a credit to the organization" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/11).

COME ALL WITHIN: In Detroit, Mitch Albom wrote Quinn has "been around winning teams" and "winning players." The Lions need to "feel smarter than other teams, not dumber." They need to "feel admired, not smirked at." Mostly, the team "needs to feel new," and Quinn is "that if nothing else." Albom: "New to the franchise. New to the job. New to the town" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/10). Also in Detroit, Dave Birkett wrote, "The Patriot Way is coming to Detroit." Patriots coach Bill Belichick gave the Lions a "glowing recommendation of Quinn during their GM search" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/10). The DETROIT FREE PRESS' Dave Birkett wrote Quinn has a reputation across the league of "being a hard worker with a keen eye for talent" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/10). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss wrote he views the hiring of Quinn as "hiring a position coach with no coordinator experience as a head coach" because of the "major jump from his role with the Patriots." That "doesn’t mean it won’t work, but based on this dynamic, it might behoove the 39-year-old Quinn to hire a trusted assistant who has been around the block a while" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 1/9).

STICKING AROUND: Accorsi said that he will "continue advising the Lions," signing on as a Special Adviser to Wood. He added that he "won’t have an office at the Lions’ facilities and doesn’t plan to travel to more than a couple of games." He also said that he "doesn’t know how long he’ll advise Wood" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/11). In Michigan, Kyle Meinke wrote Wood could "wind up wielding a little more power than expected" when he was hired in November. Quinn will be "answering to Wood," in addition to Ford. That is a "change in organizational structure from the previous regime," which saw Mayhew and former President Tom Lewand "on equal footing." They both "reported to ownership" (MLIVE.com, 1/10).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/01/11/Franchises/Lions.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/01/11/Franchises/Lions.aspx

CLOSE