Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions are apparently losing long-time front office employee Jon Dykema to a Michigan State opportunity.
According to ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel, the Detroit Lions are set to lose another member of their front office. Lions director of football compliance/lead football counsel Jon Dykema is reportedly taking the executive senior associate AD/student-athlete management position for Michigan State.
Dykema is one of the longest-tenured members of the Lions’ front office. He’s been with the team for the past 15 years, serving mostly on the legal side of the business. For the last four years, he has held what was he most recent role for Detroit.
What were his job responsibilities in the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell era? Here’s what Dykema was doing, per the Lions’ official website.
Dykema’s responsibilities include overseeing the legal aspects of the club’s football operation, negotiating player contracts, assisting with the club’s salary cap planning and management, helping to direct analytics initiatives and coordinating with the league office regarding CBA compliance, player contracts and grievances. He also advises the coaching staff on playing rule interpretations and changes, penalty trends and replay reviews. On the business side of the organization, Dykema functions as the club’s privacy officer for HIPAA compliance and helps manage the organization’s government relations strategies and policies
In other words, some contract negotiation, salary cap management, and a whole bunch of legal work for the team.
Dykema becomes the second Lions front office member this offseason to leave for a college job, and the fifth member of the staff over the past three years who have found promotions elsewhere. Here’s an overview:
Earlier this week, the Lions announced their 2025 coaching staff.
