The Detroit Lions have experienced plenty of change over the past year. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took the same job with the New York Jets. Frank Ragnow’s retirement brought another sudden change and the Lions are trying to figure it all out as OTAs commence this week.
But when it comes to the front office, they’ve had a different kind of change. A former Lions staffer left earlier this offseason to take a job in the collegiate ranks but is now returning to the NFL. While the move is shocking, it’s another reminder of how fast things can change as he gets another opportunity in the league.
Former Lions Executive Jon Dykema Takes New Job With Jaguars
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to hire Michigan State senior athletic director and assistant general counsel Jon Dykema. It’s unclear what Dykema’s new role with the Jaguars will be but it’s interesting considering he had just taken the job at Michigan State back in February.
According to his profile page on the Spartans’ athletics website, Dykema “[played] a pivotal role in drafting, managing and negotiating contracts for Athletics, including, but not limited to, contracts related to sponsorships; commercial partnerships; name, image and likeness (NIL) activities; media rights and employee contracts.”
A Michigan State alum and student manager while the Spartans men’s basketball team won a national championship in 2000, Dykema was excited about the new opportunity but something apparently changed after a few months on the job.
Dykema was previously a long-term staple of the Lions front office, spending 15 seasons including the last four years as the team’s director of football compliance/lead football counsel. While his role wasn’t obvious to the common fan, it likely played a big role in helping Detroit’s ascent to an NFC power, reaching the conference championship game in 2023 and posting a 15-2 record last season.