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North Carolina A&T graduate Brad Holmes is the Detroit Lions' new general manager, the first Black college graduate to hold the position in NFL history. Holmes, a 2002 graduate, is a four-year letter winner who helped the Aggies to the 1999 Black college national championship

North Carolina A&T’s football legacy has been extended to an NFL decision-making position.

Brad Holmes, a 2002 graduate, has been named executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Lions. Holmes, 41, moves to the Lions after 18 years with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was director of college scouting. He will oversee Detroit’s football operations and report directly to principal owner and chairman Sheila Ford Hamp and president and CEO Ron Wood.

“Throughout our search for a new general manager, Brad was someone who stood out immediately,” Wood said in a statement. “His abilities as a critical thinker, along with his extensive experience implementing technology and analytics into his approach to scouting, were among the many decisive qualities Brad displayed in our time getting to know him during the interview process.”

Holmes, a defensive tackle at A&T, was a four-year letter winner, two-year starter and 2001 captain who helped the Aggies win the 1999 MEAC and Black college national championship. He graduated with a degree in journalism and mass communications.

After originally joining the Rams in 2003 as a public relations intern, Holmes moved to scouting and player personnel, including national scout, area scout, national Combine scout and scouting assistant.

As a leader in the player personnel department from 2013-20, the Rams went 64-58 (.524) and had 25 players – including 2017 Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, 2017 and 2018 Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff – named to the Pro Bowl. They earned three playoff berths, won the NFC West twice and advanced to Super Bowl LIII.

“It was evident early on that Brad is a proven leader who is ready for this opportunity. We are thrilled to introduce him to our fans as a member of our football family,” Hamp said.

Holmes’ family has NFL links. His father Marvin, who also played at A&T, was a Pittsburgh Steelers guard from 1971-73, and his uncle, Luther Bradley, was the Lions’ 1978 first-round draft pick. 

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