Lions interview three internal candidates for GM vacancy

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Lions interview three internal candidates for general manager vacancy

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 12/11/20

The Detroit Lions are wasting no time in attempting to find a new general manager following the firing of Bob Quinn.

Detroit announced on Friday that it has interviewed three internal candidates for the GM vacancy: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle O'Brien, Director of Player Personnel Lance Newmark and Director of Pro Scouting Rob Lohman.

The #Lions completed General Manager interviews this week with the following candidates: pic.twitter.com/0ylgQk0hzU
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 11, 2020

O'Brien has been in the NFL for 18 seasons and currently is in his fourth season with the Lions. He worked as Detroit's director of player personnel before being promoted to his current position in 2017. O'Brien was instrumental in helping the Lions reach the playoffs in 2016 and has played an integral role in selecting a number of talented players via the NFL Draft, including Taylor Decker, Jarrad Davis and Kerryon Johnson.

Newmark, meanwhile, is in his 23rd season with the Lions' player personnel department. The 2020 season is his fourth as Detroit's director of player personnel. He was promoted to the position in 2017, replacing O'Brien.

Lohman was named the Lions' director of pro scouting in 2019 and currently is in his 14th season with the franchise. He spent seven seasons as the team's college scouting coordinator and regional scout before being elevated to his current position.

The Lions will begin to interview external GM candidates in the coming weeks, though there has been no report on who those candidates might be.

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