The Detroit Lions have agreed in principle on a contract with New England Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn as their next general manager, Lions team president Rod Wood confirmed Friday night.
Quinn joined the Patriots in 2000 as a player personnel assistant and has been with the organization ever since, climbing up the ranks. He joined the team the same year as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, becoming a trusted advisor.
"Bob's done a good job with us," Belichick said of Quinn earlier this week. "Been with us a long time and has a number of different responsibilities in the scouting department, pro, college, advance. Different projects, things like that. He's done a real solid job."
He's currently in his fourth season as the director of pro scouting after being named to the position in May of 2012. He's worked as both a pro and college scout, and was the assistant director of pro personnel for three years before being promoted to his current position.
"We're looking for someone who can help come in and build a winning program for the long haul," Wood said after last week's season finale in Chicago. "Hopefully someone who can take what we have on the field now, which we obviously demonstrated the second half of the season we've got talent, build on it and produce a winning team next year and the years beyond."
Quinn was one of four candidates for the Lions job, along with interim GM Sheldon White, New York Giants assistant GM Kevin Abrams and Seattle Seahawks assistant director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner.
One of Quinn's first duties will be to decide the future of head coach Jim Caldwell. Wood has stated all along that decision will be up to the new GM.
Caldwell has two years remaining on his contract after going 18-14 in two seasons with the team.
