The Detroit Lions have gone from a playoff team last season to a complete disaster this year and ownership finally made a big move to try to fix the downward spiral. Both general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand have been fired.
While the Lions have not issued a statement yet, sources confirmed the move to The Detroit Free Press and ESPN. The decision comes just after the NFL trading deadline came and went without the Lions making any trades at all.
The Free Press reports that Sheila Ford Hamp will take a major role within the organization.
Mayhew was named interim GM during the disastrous 0-16 season in 2008. He was then named permanent GM after that season. Lewand had been team president since December 2008 and worked with Mayhew to create the current line-up.
The Lions have struggled at the draft in recent years and lost Ndamukong Suh during the offseason. Although they made the playoffs last season with an 11-5 record, the team has only won one game through the first eight this season.
The team has a bye this Sunday following a blowout 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in London on Nov. 1. Things don’t get easy when they hit the field again, since they play the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 15.
UPDATE: The Lions have confirmed the organizational changes. Owner Martha Firestone Ford said that former vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White will be interim GM. Former CFO Allison Maki was named COO.
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