Brad Holmes facts for kids

Brad Holmes, born on July 29, 1979, is an important person in American football. He is the executive vice president and general manager for the Detroit Lions team in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the Lions, he worked for the St. Louis Rams and Los Angeles Rams in different leadership jobs from 2003 to 2020. Brad Holmes was even named the "Executive of the Year" by the Pro Football Writers of America in both 2023 and 2024. This shows he is very good at his job!

Early Life and Football Career

Brad Holmes grew up in Tampa, Florida. He went to George D. Chamberlain High School and finished in 1997. While there, he was the captain of the football team. He was also chosen as the homecoming king, which is a special honor.

After high school, Brad went to North Carolina A&T University. He studied Journalism and Mass Communications and graduated with high honors in 2002. He played football for four years at college as a defensive tackle. He was a key player for his team, the Aggies.

College Football Achievements

In 1999, Brad was voted team captain. That year, his team won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. They also won the Black college football national championship. This was a big achievement for the team!

After the 1999 season, Brad was in a car accident. He was in a coma for a week. But he made a full recovery and was able to play his final season of college football in 2001.

Working in Football Management

After college, Brad Holmes wanted to work in professional sports. He first got an internship in public relations with the Atlanta Hawks, a basketball team. This helped him get another internship with the St. Louis Rams football team in 2003.

Time with the Rams

Brad started as a public relations intern with the St. Louis Rams. He became friends with Wilbert Montgomery, a former football star who was a coach for the Rams. 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. He was a scout, which means he helped find new players for the team. He worked under several important leaders in the Rams' front office.

In 2013, Brad was promoted to director of college scouting. In this job, he was very important in finding talented players for the Rams. Some of these players became "Pro Bowlers," which means they were among the best players in the league. These players included Aaron Donald, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, and Cooper Kupp.

Joining the Detroit Lions

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

One of Brad's first big decisions for the Lions was a trade. He traded the team's longtime quarterback, Matthew Stafford, to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, the Lions received quarterback Jared Goff and several important draft picks.

Family Life

Brad Holmes comes from a family of football players. His father, Melvin Holmes, played offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. His uncle, Luther Bradley, was also a football player for the Detroit Lions. Brad's cousin, Alex Barron, was a first-round draft pick for the Rams. Brad is married and has a son and a daughter.