The Detroit Lions are continuing to strengthen their football operation, announcing a series of personnel and football operations changes as the organization prepares for the 2026 NFL season.
The Lions announced the moves Wednesday, August 12, with several members of the scouting and personnel departments receiving new titles and expanded responsibilities. The changes highlight the organization’s continued emphasis on building a strong infrastructure behind general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.
Among the most notable promotions are Dwayne Joseph to vice president of player personnel, Rob Lohman to vice president of roster operations/evaluations, Joe Kelleher to director of pro scouting, and Mark Olson to assistant director of college scouting.
Joseph’s promotion is particularly significant. As vice president of player personnel, he will have an important role in helping oversee the evaluation and acquisition of talent. That responsibility becomes increasingly important as Detroit continues trying to maintain a competitive roster while developing young players.
Lohman will take on the title of vice president of roster operations/evaluations, putting him in a key position when it comes to roster construction and evaluating personnel decisions. Kelleher, meanwhile, moves into the director of pro scouting role, giving him greater responsibility for evaluating NFL players who could potentially become targets for the Lions.
Olson’s promotion to assistant director of college scouting also represents an important investment in Detroit’s draft evaluation process.
The organization announced several other personnel moves as well. Blake Ask was named a pro scout, Paul Bargerstock became director of football information systems, Paul Ibrahim was promoted to manager of decision science and football information, while Levi Wilson moved into the senior director of football technology position. Ademi Smith was named an area scout.
The Lions also made changes within football operations. Lauren Crawford was named team operations coordinator, Joey Jaroshewich became senior manager of equipment, and Tim O’Neill was promoted to director of equipment operations. The organization also announced additions and promotions involving strength and conditioning and equipment personnel.
One intriguing addition is Chris Grier, who joins Detroit as a personnel advisor after previously serving as the Miami Dolphins’ general manager. His experience running an NFL front office gives the Lions another veteran voice in their personnel operation.
These moves come at an important point for Detroit. The Lions are trying to return to playoff contention after missing the postseason in 2025, while continuing to build around a core that includes several highly paid veterans and promising young players.
The front-office changes may not generate the same attention as a major signing or trade, but they could have a significant long-term impact. Better scouting, roster evaluation and organizational structure can directly influence draft selections, free-agent decisions and the development of the roster.
For the Lions, Wednesday’s announcement represents another step in building the infrastructure they believe can sustain success in the coming years.
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