Hired by Matt Millen in 2007, promoted by Martin Mayhew, retained and elevated to his current role by Bob Quinn, director of pro scouting Rob Lohman has managed to stick and thrive through the transition to the current regime.
Very interesting article! The fan base do not often get an opportunity to learn about an NFL teams personnel. That help come up with the data on players that is reviewed when making decisions that may transpired throughout the season.
During the off-season, if there is one for pro sports people of all stripes, a behind the scenes weekly series would be great. It’s obvious readers here love them, and you have a great talent for them. I still talk about your Spielman piece.
As much as I'd love to do something like that, it's not realistic. To connect with these individuals, I'm reliant on the team to approve the interviews and also for the schedules to align. I'm flexible, but that first part is very difficult. People have no idea how many bigger, more advanced story ideas are shut down at some point in the interview request process to get one to come together like this. With Spielman, it took two years to get him to agree to sit down, and that's with having a good professional relationship with him. So these really are special treats for the audience that take diligence and timing to come together. And I'll keep working toward them as long as I can, but bi-annually will always be more realistic than weekly.
Great read. I really like the behind the scenes articles. This article helped answer a couple questions I've always had in the back of my mind. Thanks!
I watch Hard Knocks almost every year. A long time ago, when it featured the Dallas Cowboys, there was almost an entire episode centered around a parking lot attendant (or security?) that had been with the team for years. He would play cards with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott either at the team facility or at the team hotel during training camp, and they seemed to have a pretty good relationship. That episode made me think about how many people it takes to run an NFL team, and although we only focus on the players and coaches, the majority of the people who work for the team have it as a pretty standard 9 to 5, just like the rest of us. This article made me think about that. How many people do very important things for NFL teams that we will never know their names or faces.
What a great read. A really detailed look at the inner workings of the machine. Keeping Lohman on staff through multiple administrations feels like both an outlier and maybe a bit of a miracle, too. Housecleanings are all the rage these days from politics to corporations. I'm glad that Brad - and Quinn, too! - were smart enough not to throw away the baby with the bathwater in this case.
Thank you Justin for great writing about the inner workings of a NFL scouting department and all the hard work done by people who seldom get much credit.
Who new Hofstra was such a cradle of coaches? This was an excellent perspective on a side of building this franchise that we typically don't get to see. Thank you for pursuing it.
The time honored straight line path of South Carolina, Hofstra, and Syracuse to the NFL....of course. Crazy to think how many in the NFL crossed paths with Lohman in all these places. Curious about how much Agnew fits in with pro scouting today. Looks like Lohman has a direct relationship with Holmes but I bet Agnew was involved in scoping his role and the structure...Lohman's role is what Agnew did for Rams, correct? Finally, love the story about Millen combining college and pro, disregarding convention. Dysfunction.
Excellent article. I have always wondered who all are actually employed by the Lions. You see a ton of people on the sidelines and some upstairs but in totality what is the number and who are they? Great insight into the working of the Lions management.
Thanks Justin. This is the really interesting stuff that we rarely get to read about the Lions organization. I'm sure many of your subscribers enjoy this background information on the people that make our beloved Lions organization so special.
Very interesting article! The fan base do not often get an opportunity to learn about an NFL teams personnel. That help come up with the data on players that is reviewed when making decisions that may transpired throughout the season.
During the off-season, if there is one for pro sports people of all stripes, a behind the scenes weekly series would be great. It’s obvious readers here love them, and you have a great talent for them. I still talk about your Spielman piece.
As much as I'd love to do something like that, it's not realistic. To connect with these individuals, I'm reliant on the team to approve the interviews and also for the schedules to align. I'm flexible, but that first part is very difficult. People have no idea how many bigger, more advanced story ideas are shut down at some point in the interview request process to get one to come together like this. With Spielman, it took two years to get him to agree to sit down, and that's with having a good professional relationship with him. So these really are special treats for the audience that take diligence and timing to come together. And I'll keep working toward them as long as I can, but bi-annually will always be more realistic than weekly.
Great read. I really like the behind the scenes articles. This article helped answer a couple questions I've always had in the back of my mind. Thanks!
Great article, well worth the subscription.
Excellent article, Justin!
I watch Hard Knocks almost every year. A long time ago, when it featured the Dallas Cowboys, there was almost an entire episode centered around a parking lot attendant (or security?) that had been with the team for years. He would play cards with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott either at the team facility or at the team hotel during training camp, and they seemed to have a pretty good relationship. That episode made me think about how many people it takes to run an NFL team, and although we only focus on the players and coaches, the majority of the people who work for the team have it as a pretty standard 9 to 5, just like the rest of us. This article made me think about that. How many people do very important things for NFL teams that we will never know their names or faces.
Great article.
What a great read. A really detailed look at the inner workings of the machine. Keeping Lohman on staff through multiple administrations feels like both an outlier and maybe a bit of a miracle, too. Housecleanings are all the rage these days from politics to corporations. I'm glad that Brad - and Quinn, too! - were smart enough not to throw away the baby with the bathwater in this case.
Great story. Thank you for providing an outstanding article about a side of the Lions we do not often read about.
Thank you Justin for great writing about the inner workings of a NFL scouting department and all the hard work done by people who seldom get much credit.
One if my favourite pieces of the year 🙏
Agreed!!
Who new Hofstra was such a cradle of coaches? This was an excellent perspective on a side of building this franchise that we typically don't get to see. Thank you for pursuing it.
The time honored straight line path of South Carolina, Hofstra, and Syracuse to the NFL....of course. Crazy to think how many in the NFL crossed paths with Lohman in all these places. Curious about how much Agnew fits in with pro scouting today. Looks like Lohman has a direct relationship with Holmes but I bet Agnew was involved in scoping his role and the structure...Lohman's role is what Agnew did for Rams, correct? Finally, love the story about Millen combining college and pro, disregarding convention. Dysfunction.
Excellent article. I have always wondered who all are actually employed by the Lions. You see a ton of people on the sidelines and some upstairs but in totality what is the number and who are they? Great insight into the working of the Lions management.
Great stuff Justin!
Thanks Justin. This is the really interesting stuff that we rarely get to read about the Lions organization. I'm sure many of your subscribers enjoy this background information on the people that make our beloved Lions organization so special.
Great article Justin. Very interesting read!