Assistant general manager Ray Agnew is scheduled to take part in the NFL’s Front Office and General Manager Accelerator program, which means the front office of the Detroit Lions might undergo a major transformation. The goal of this program is to promote diversity and help front desk employees progress to positions of more responsibility, like general manager.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated, “The NFL is committed to improving diversity throughout the league, and a large part of that is providing leadership opportunities to diverse candidates.” “With the Accelerator Program, our clubs and owners get the chance to meet some of the best prospects in the league—people they might not have known—up close. Our goal is for these initiatives to result in a greater diversity of leadership positions.
For the past several years, the NFL Front Office and General Manager program has played a key role in helping qualified diverse front office candidates develop relationships with owners and club leadership,” said Chicago Bears President & Chief Executive Officer Kevin Warren, member of the NFL Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. “The value of this initiative is both profound and powerful, and I look forward to encouraging participants to take full advantage of this unique educational networking and professional development opportunity.
Having joined the Rams’ front office in 2017, Agnew played a pivotal role in building their 2018 NFC championship team and subsequent playoff teams. His move to the Lions in 2021, along with GM Brad Holmes, has been marked by exceptional performance. Agnew’s participation in this accelerator program indicates that his elevation to a general manager role could be imminent, either this offseason or in the near future. This potential advancement, while a testament to Agnew’s skills and the Lions’ success in nurturing talent, also poses the challenge of maintaining stability within the Lions’ front office structure.
