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Adding More Experience: Mayhew, Lions Name James Harris the Team's Senior Personnel Executive
The Detroit Lions have officially completed their front office search with the hiring of James Harris as the team’s Senior Personnel Executive. Harris has spent the last six years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has a 22-year-long personnel and scouting career in addition to 12-year playing career....more
Offseason Transactions: Lions Announce the Release of Six Players and Confirm Their 2009 Unrestricted Free Agents
With a new general manager, team president and head coach, there is no telling which direction the Lions will go in regards to player personnel and – according to Martin Mayhew – the ‘no telling’ may be by design. The Lions did announce some transactions today, however, releasing cornerback Leigh Bodden, tight end Dan Campbell, tackle Jon Dunn, wide receiver Mike Furrey, guard Edwin Mulitalo and safety Dwight Smith. The organization did not comment on the transactions and will move forward into the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency and then the NFL Draft....more
The Speculation Grows: With Super Bowl XLIII in the Books, Even More Focus is on Detroit's First-Overall Draft Pick
Considering the Detroit Lions hold the No. 1-overall selection in this year’s draft, fan focus has been directed toward that pick since the conclusion of the 2008 season. That focus has grown even stronger with the Super Bowl officially in the books and a league-wide shift toward the 2009 offseason. But as fan and media speculation runs rampant, neither Head Coach Jim Schwartz nor the front office is alluding to any possible scenarios for the draft of free agency. Instead, they are focused on finalizing the coaching staff and preparing for the NFL Combine, which begins in less than two weeks....more
A Vision: Lions Heading in a Clear Direction with New Administrators and Coaches
Now that the primary administrative components are in place, fans can see more clearly the direction the Detroit Lions are looking to take beginning with the 2009 season. With new front office staff – Team President Tom Lewand and General Manager Martin Mayhew – a new head coach, Jim Schwartz, and new coordinators – Gunther Cunningham and Scott Linehan – the Lions have their final destination in mind. It just has to materialize....more
Pinpointing Key Pieces: Linehan Already Sees Solid Components to Build his Offense Around
Scott Linehan spent the last three seasons of the 2008 regular season scouting. After he was released as the St. Louis Rams head coach four games into the season, Linehan wanted to remain up to speed on what was going on in the football world. So he because a college football connoisseur, even visiting coaching friends at their respective colleges between the end of the season and their bowl games....more
The Evaluation Process: Cunningham Looking at Current Players Before Developing his Scheme
Hired last week by Head Coach Jim Schwartz, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham is already in the midst of familiarizing himself with his new roster. It is a tedious process that will take up much of the week, but it must be done to move forward in developing a scheme. Considering the early stages, Cunningham didn’t want to divulge any specific impressions....more
Lions Listen: Lewand, Mayhew and Schwartz Field Questions from Season Ticketholders at Town Hall Meeting
An 0-16 2008 season left a lot of disappointment in its wake, especially for Detroit Lions fans. Experiencing a full year without a victory was tough on the team itself and just as difficult on the fans that live and die with the team. As the franchise moves forward into a new era of Detroit Lions football, the organization’s newly-appointed leaders – Team President Tom Lewand, General Manager Martin Mayhew and Head Coach Jim Schwartz – wanted a chance to reach out to the fans on a more personal level. Some answers came in the first of two town hall meetings held at Ford Field for Detroit Lions season ticketholders on Monday, January 26. The second will be held tonight – Tuesday, January 27....more
Bringing in Experience: Schwartz Pleased with the Hiring of Scott Linehan as his Offensive Coordinator
Just one week after his introductory press conference at Ford Field, Head Coach Jim Schwartz has both of his coordinators in place. On Wednesday, Schwartz announced the hiring of friend and former colleague Gunther Cunningham as his assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Today, Schwartz announced the hiring of Scott Linehan as his new offensive coordinator....more
His First Hire: Schwartz Names Former Colleague Gunther Cunningham His Defensive Coordinator
Head Coach Jim Schwartz made the first step in the hiring of his staff on Wednesday, naming Gunther Cunningham as his assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. The pair has a history together, crossing paths in Tennessee when Cunningham was the Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach from 2001-03 while Schwartz was the defensive coordinator. They have mutual respect for one other and are each pleased to be working together once again....more
Putting the Pieces in Place: With the Defensive Coordinator Hired, Schwartz Can Begin Brainstorming on Scheme
In less than one week, the Detroit Lions have put their primary defensive minds in place: Head Coach Jim Schwartz and newly-hired Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham. The pair has worked together in the past, spending three seasons with each other in Tennessee from 2001-03 – Schwartz as the defensive coordinator and Cunningham as the assistant head coach/linebackers coach. Now, they are joining up again – this time to build a new Detroit Lions’ defense....more
A New Era: General Manager Martin Mayhew Introduces Jim Schwartz as Lions' Head Coach
Just four days after standing in front of the local media in Allen Park as part of his second interview, Jim Schwartz stood in front of the media again – this time at Ford Field as the newly-named head coach of the Detroit Lions....more
A Ringing Endorsement: Mayhew Speaks on the Hiring of Schwartz as Detroit Lions Head Coach
After more than two weeks of searching for the right person, Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew is excited about the hiring of the team’s head coach, Jim Schwartz. “His football resume speaks for itself,” said Mayhew. “He’s been a scout, he’s been a position coach, he’s been a coordinator and he’s been very successful at all of those things. We think that he’s going to be the guy to take our football team to where we’re trying to get to.”...more
Former Lion Lomas Brown to Host Celebrity Cruise
Over the course of his 18-year professional career, former Lions’ offensive tackle Lomas Brown distinguished himself as one of the premier offensive linemen of his time, both on and off the field. A native of Miami, Florida, Brown was drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft and spent the first 10 years of his career in Detroit where he and his family have since become entrenched in the Michigan community forming the Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation in 1991 and organizing several fundraising events, including a Celebrity Cruise set for the end of March this year to raise awareness of the birth injury, Brachial Plexus Palsy....more
Developing Young Talent: As the Coaching Search Continues, the Lions Know they have Improving Players to Build Around
The Detroit Lions head coaching search is still underway as Team President Tom Lewand and General Manager Martin Mayhew are still in the process of interviewing candidates. But while the Lions don’t know who their next head coach will be, they do know that they have a solid group of young players that emerged last season in spite of a trying year. It is that group of players that will develop into a strong foundation moving forward with a new coaching regime....more
Building a Base: Mayhew and Lewand will Look to Build the Lions Through the NFL Draft
One of the big questions asked of President Tom Lewand and General Manager Martin Mayhew on Tuesday afternoon was how the Lions were going to build a team moving forward. Would it be through free agency or the draft?...more
