Brad Holmes facts for kids

Brad Holmes, born on July 29, 1979, is a key leader in American football. He is currently the executive vice president and general manager for the Detroit Lions, a team in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the Lions, he worked for the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams teams in various important roles from 2003 to 2020. Brad Holmes has been recognized for his excellent work, winning the PFWA Executive of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024.

Brad Holmes: A Football Leader

Early Life and College Football

Brad Holmes grew up in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from George D. Chamberlain High School in 1997. While there, he was the captain of the football team. He was also chosen as the homecoming king.

After high school, Brad went to North Carolina A&T University. He earned a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications in 2002. He was a four-year letterman for the Aggies football team. He played as a defensive tackle. In 1999, his team won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. They also won the Black college football national championship.

During his college years, Brad was in a car accident that put him in a coma for a week. But he made a full recovery. He was able to play his final season of college football in 2001.

Starting His Career in Sports

After college, Brad wanted to work in professional sports. He first worked for Enterprise Rent A Car. Then, in 2002, he got an internship in public relations with the Atlanta Hawks. This is a basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

This led him to another public relations internship in 2003. This time, it was with the St. Louis Rams of the NFL.

Working with the Rams

In 2003, Brad Holmes officially joined the St. Louis Rams as a public relations intern. While working there, he became friends with Wilbert Montgomery. Montgomery was a former star player and a coach for the Rams.

After his internship, Montgomery helped Brad get a job in the Rams' player personnel department. From 2003 to 2012, Brad worked in many different roles for the Rams. These included scout, area scout, and national Combine scout. He helped find new players for the team.

In 2013, Brad was promoted to director of college scouting. In this important role, he helped the Rams find many talented players. These players included Aaron Donald, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, and Cooper Kupp. These players became known as the Rams' "Mob Squad" and were very successful.

Leading the Detroit Lions

On January 14, 2021, Brad Holmes was named the executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Lions. He signed a five-year contract for this big role. He took over from the previous general manager, Bob Quinn.

One of Brad's first big moves as general manager was a trade. He traded the Lions' longtime quarterback, Matthew Stafford, to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, the Lions received quarterback Jared Goff. They also got two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. This trade was a major step in reshaping the Lions team.

His Family's Football Roots

Brad Holmes comes from a family with strong ties to football. His father, Melvin Holmes, played offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1971 to 1973.

His uncle, Luther Bradley, also played in the NFL. He was a defensive back for the Detroit Lions. He was a first-round draft pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. Brad's cousin, Alex Barron, was also a first-round pick. He was drafted by the Rams in 2005.

Brad Holmes is married and has a son and a daughter.