Mike Martin enters his fourth season with the Lions as the team's director of scouting advancement. In his role, he works with the college and pro personnel staff to enhance the scouting and roster-building processes.
Martin was an integral part of constructing a 2023 roster that helped the Lions to a 12-5 record, tying the single-season franchise record for wins in a season. The 2023 season was the third season in team history to have multiple playoff games won, and the first time it occurred in a season for the franchise since 1957. The 2023 roster construction was also pivotal in helping Detroit clinch their first Division Championship since 1993 and advance to their first NFC Championship since 1991. Before coming to Detroit, Martin most recently served as the southwest area scout for the Carolina Panthers from 2018-20.
He previously spent 11 seasons with the Houston Texans, serving as the team's assistant director of college scouting in 2017, a national scout from 2015-16, and as a college scout from 2007-14. Before joining Houston, he spent four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining the team as a pro personnel assistant in 2003, becoming a pro scout in 2004, and spending the 2005-06 seasons as the southeast region and national combine scout. His first NFL position came as an intern with the Tennessee Titans in 2002.
A finalist for the 2003 Male SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Martin played four seasons at Vanderbilt (1999-02) as a defensive back as well as special teams. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in human and organizational developmental studies in 2002. In 2003, he earned a master's degree in organizational leadership from Vanderbilt.
He and his wife, Cari, have two children, a son, Maddon, and a daughter, Malone.
