The Detroit Lions are losing another key front office member to the collegiate ranks, marking the second departure in just a week. Following Mike Martin’s recent move to become Notre Dame’s general manager, the Lions will now see Director of Football Compliance and Lead Football Counsel Jon Dykema depart for Michigan State.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Dykema has accepted a position at Michigan State as the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Management and Assistant General Counsel. His new responsibilities will include overseeing and negotiating athletic contracts, a critical role in today’s landscape of college athletics with the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.
Michigan State has officially confirmed Dykema’s hiring. A graduate of the university in 2003, he was involved with the men’s basketball program as a student manager from 1999-2003, contributing to two Final Four appearances and the Spartans’ national championship in 2000. Originally from Grand Rapids, he later pursued a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law and an MBA from Akron’s College of Business Administration, both earned in 2007.
Before joining the Lions, Dykema spent four years (2007-2011) as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations at the University of Utah. He then transitioned to the Lions in 2011, holding multiple roles over the years, including staff counsel, interim general counsel, and manager of football administration. In 2022, he was elevated to Director of Football Compliance/Lead Football Counsel.
Dykema’s role with the Lions was extensive, covering legal matters related to football operations, player contracts, salary cap management, analytics, and league compliance. Additionally, he advised the coaching staff on rule changes and penalty trends while also managing the team’s privacy policies and government relations strategies.
With Dykema’s departure, the Lions continue to experience notable turnover in their front office, with two key figures leaving for college roles in just a short span.
