Notre Dame made a major addition to its football program on Thursday, officially naming Mike Martin as the new General Manager. Martin brings over 20 years of NFL scouting experience to South Bend, most recently serving as the Director of Scouting Advancement for the Detroit Lions, where he played a key role in building a roster that achieved a franchise-record 15-2 season in 2024.
“Mike Martin is an innovative, forward-thinking, organized leader, who is also elite at talent evaluation,” said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. “He is a great communicator and has valuable experience in roster building and management. His expertise in sports science and analytics will help us continue to elevate our program.”
During his four years with the Lions, Martin worked closely with college and pro personnel staff to refine scouting and roster-building processes. His contributions were instrumental in Detroit’s recent success, including back-to-back 12-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, a division title, and an NFC Championship appearance—the team’s first since 1991.
Before joining the Lions, Martin spent three seasons as the southwest area scout for the Carolina Panthers (2018-2020) and 11 years with the Houston Texans, where he held roles as a college scout, national scout, and assistant director of college scouting. He began his NFL career as an intern with the Tennessee Titans in 2002 and later worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in various scouting roles.
A Vanderbilt graduate, Martin played defensive back for the Commodores and was a finalist for the 2003 Male SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt and now joins Notre Dame with his wife, Cari, and their two children, Maddon and Malone. Martin’s extensive experience and innovative approach are expected to play a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s continued success on the gridiron.
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