SAD NEWS: Detroit Lions Lose Another Key Front Office Member!
For the second time this offseason, the Detroit Lions have lost a valuable front office member to the Washington Commanders.
Earlier this year, Lance Newmark, who had been with the Lions for 26 years, departed to become the Washington Commanders’ assistant general manager. Now, the Lions are set to lose another integral figure. On Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the Commanders were in the process of hiring Brandon Sosna, the Lions’ senior director of football administration, to an undisclosed high-ranking role.
By Monday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that the deal was finalized. Sosna will join the Commanders as their new senior vice president of football operations, a move that the Commanders have since confirmed.
Sosna, who is 31, was hired by the Lions in 2022. Prior to his tenure in Detroit, he spent three years at USC and had previous NFL experience with the Cleveland Browns. This offseason, Sosna played a pivotal role for the Lions as the lead contract negotiator, overseeing significant contract extensions.
According to Schefter, Sosna’s responsibilities with the Commanders will be extensive. Reporting to GM Adam Peters, he will be the lead contract negotiator and oversee various football operations departments, including analytics, health and performance, and football administration. He will also be instrumental in roster construction strategy, managing the salary cap, and navigating the collective bargaining agreement.
The Other Side of Success
The Lions are facing the downside of their recent success, with other teams looking to poach their talent. Sosna’s departure marks the third significant loss for the Lions’ front office in the past year. In addition to Newmark, the Arizona Cardinals hired former Lions’ scouting director Dave Sears as their assistant general manager in January 2023.
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Despite attempts by the Commanders to hire Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their head coach earlier this year, Johnson chose to stay with Detroit. This means the Lions could have potentially lost three key figures to Washington in recent months.
In response to these departures, the Lions have been proactive in replenishing their front office. They have hired Dwayne Joseph and Tom Roth for roles that are yet to be disclosed and announced. While Sosna’s exit is a significant loss, it highlights the growing recognition of the Lions’ successful front office pipeline and on-field performance.
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