The Detroit Lions are facing the possibility of losing their third front office employee to another team in just over a year.
The Detroit Lions might be facing the risk of losing another crucial member of their front office. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Washington Commanders are actively pursuing the hiring of Lions’ senior director of football administration, Brandon Sosna. While Garafolo describes the position as a “high-ranking front-office” role, the specifics of Sosna’s potential role with the Commanders remain unspecified.
This potential departure would represent a notable loss for the Lions’ front office, particularly since Lions general manager Brad Holmes has recently spoken highly of Sosna during his media appearances.
“Last year was kind of his first free agency, and I thought he did a phenomenal job,” Holmes said in March. “This year, he knocked it out of the park again. Just with all these deals, me and Dan (Campbell) can communicate with him about these guys we’re targeting. But Sosna is getting those deals done, along with Mike Disner.”
Sosna played a significant role in Detroit’s 2024 offseason, particularly in managing the salary cap and negotiating player contracts. Over the past month alone, the Lions secured new contracts for quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, with Sosna playing a crucial part in these deals.
The Lions brought Sosna on board less than two years ago, drawing from his diverse background spanning both college and professional football. Prior to joining the Lions, he served as a cap expert for the Cleveland Browns for several years. Following his tenure with the Browns, Sosna transitioned to USC, where he assumed the role of chief of staff for athletics.
If the Lions were to lose Sosna, it would mark the third front office member hired by another team in the past year—and the second to be poached by the Washington Commanders this offseason alone. In February, the Commanders secured Lance Newmark, who had spent 26 years with the Lions, as their next assistant general manager. Additionally, last year, the Lions lost Dave Sears when the Arizona Cardinals hired him to be their new assistant general manager.
In summary, the Lions’ front office is esteemed and in high demand. Despite recent departures, they’ve bolstered their ranks by reportedly signing two highly respected individuals, Dwayne Joseph and Tom Roth. While their specific roles have not been officially announced, their additions signify the Lions’ commitment to maintaining a strong and competitive front office.