Lions hire Patriots exec Bob Quinn as general manager

Quinn has spent his entire NFL career in New England, getting promoted from player personnel assistant to pro scout to regional scout to national scout to assistant director of pro personnel to director of pro scouting, so the Patriots’ front office clearly thinks highly of his work.

“We are thrilled to have agreed to a deal with Bob to make him our new general manager”, Wood said.

January 8, 2016Bob Quinn and #Lions are working out final details of his contract now.

The Lions have interviewed candidates such as interim GM Sheldon White, Seattle’s Trent Kirchner and Kevin Abrams from the New York Giants.

The Lions are hiring Quinn after firing team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew on November 5, after the team started the season 1-7. The #Patriots executive had Bill Belichick’s support.

With the Lions reportedly filling their GM opening, other teams still seeking people to fill general manager vacancies include the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns, who are expected to hire a vice president of player personnel. He quickly rose through the team’s scouting ranks until taking over his current role, which he assumed in 2012.

Quinn’s first task will be to decide whether to retain or fire coach Jim Caldwell. The Patriots, one of the league’s perennially successful franchises, have made the playoffs seven straight years and won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2014.

“We’re looking for someone to come in and build a winning program for the long haul”, Wood said recently.