Lions Secure Elite Personnel Executive
Detroit Lions strengthen front office with former Dolphins GM Chris Grier as new personnel executive.
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Key Points
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Grier’s departure from Miami came right after a Thursday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens that left the Dolphins 2-7, and ESPN reported the Lions would be his next stop for the 2026 season.
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During his 10 seasons as Miami’s general manager (2016-2025), the Dolphins went 82-83 in the regular season, made the playoffs three times, and lost in all three Wild Card games.
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Grier’s connection to Detroit’s head coach runs through Dan Campbell: while at Miami, Grier interviewed Campbell for a full-time head-coaching role after Joe Philbin was fired, but Campbell was ultimately not hired by Grier (Adam Gase was). Campbell is now the Lions’ coach.
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The Lions’ offseason personnel reshaping includes recent scouting 'brain drain'—Dave Sears left in 2023 to become an Arizona Cardinals assistant GM, Lance Newmark departed in 2024 for Washington, and Mike Martin left in 2025 to become Notre Dame’s general manager.
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Reports credited Grier-era Miami roster building with key selections such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and pass rusher Jaelan Phillips (among others), reinforcing the scouting-heavy rationale for his Detroit role.
The Detroit Lions have hired former Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier as a personnel executive, according to ESPN. Grier, who spent 25 years with Miami including 10 as its GM, was fired on October 31, 2025 — one day after the Dolphins fell to 2-7 with a 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Grier joins Detroit not as a decision-maker but as a veteran talent evaluator working under GM Brad Holmes, Pro Football Rumors reported. The move gives Holmes a second former NFL general manager in his front office, alongside John Dorsey, who has been with the Lions since 2021.
Dolphins Exit After a 2-7 Collapse and 82-83 Record
Grier's tenure in Miami lasted from 2016 to 2025. The Dolphins went 82-83 in the regular season under his watch, Pro Football Rumors noted. They made the playoffs three times but lost all three Wild Card games. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said "change could not wait" when he fired Grier, citing the need for immediate improvement, according to NFL.com.
The final blow to Grier's tenure was a four-year, $212.4 million extension he gave quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in July 2024, including $167.1 million guaranteed. That contract became a heavy burden on Miami's salary cap when Tagovailoa's performance and health declined in 2025, according to Pro Football Rumors. New Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan is now managing that fallout.
Lions Lost Three Senior Scouts in 36 Months Before Grier
Detroit's front office has taken real hits in recent years. Director of College Scouting Dave Sears left in January 2023 to become the Arizona Cardinals' assistant GM. Senior Director of Player Personnel Lance Newmark departed in February 2024 for the same role with Washington. Director of Scouting Advancement Mike Martin left in February 2025 to become Notre Dame's GM, according to Detroit Football Network.
Holmes described the 2026 offseason as a time for a "deeper, harder look from top to bottom," according to the Lions Collective Podcast. Grier fills the senior evaluator void left by those departures. He is expected to focus on the 2027 draft cycle, leaning on college scouting experience that dates back to the 1994 New England Patriots.
Grier's Scouting Hits — and His Complicated History with Dan Campbell
Supporters of the hire point to Grier's talent evaluation record. He drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and pass rusher Jaelan Phillips during his time in Miami. He also acquired Laremy Tunsil and then traded him for a large package of draft picks, and signed Minkah Fitzpatrick before dealing him to Pittsburgh, according to Detroit Jock City.
There is also a personal connection to Detroit's head coach. When Miami needed a full-time head coach in early 2016, Grier interviewed Dan Campbell — then the Dolphins' interim coach — for the job. Grier chose Adam Gase instead. Campbell is now the Lions' head coach, and Lions Collective reports his fingerprints are on Grier's hiring, signaling the two have moved past that moment.
Two Former GMs Now Advise Holmes as Lions Enter Retention Phase
With Grier joining Dorsey, Holmes now has two former NFL general managers in advisory roles. Analysts see a clear division of labor: Dorsey handles pro personnel and the trade market, while Grier focuses on college scouting. Yahoo Sports called the move one that "strengthens their biggest strength" — Detroit's reputation as one of the league's best talent-evaluating organizations.
The timing matters. Stars like running back Jahmyr Gibbs and safety Brian Branch will soon need major contract extensions. Grier's experience — including his cautionary $212 million mistake with Tagovailoa — could shape how Detroit handles those talks. Critics remain skeptical, with Sports Illustrated calling his nine-year Miami run one of "mediocrity" given the resources spent. But in Detroit, he answers to Holmes, not the other way around.
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