Jon Dykema, Michigan State University’s executive senior associate athletic director for student-athlete management and assistant general counsel, is leaving the university just three months after his arrival to join the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in a front office role.
The news comes just days after Michigan State named Georgia Tech’s J Batt as its next athletic director on June 1. Dykema, who joined MSU in February after 14 years with the Detroit Lions, where he managed contracts and salary cap strategy, is expected to join the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Traditionally, leadership changes at MSU are followed by front office turnover. Dykema is the second reported departure from MSU Athletics, following Assistant AD for Business Development and NIL Strategy Darien Harris, who left for the NFL to become Director of Player Engagement with the New York Giants.
During his brief stint at MSU, Dykema played a key role in drafting, managing and negotiating contracts across the department — including sponsorships, commercial partnerships, NIL initiatives, media rights and employee agreements.
“For Darien and Jon, the roles offered by NFL teams represent exciting growth in their careers,” MSU athletics spokesperson Matt Larson said in an email to The State News. “We appreciate their contributions to MSU and wish them the best.”
Amanda Holts, Jacksonville Jaguars' Senior Director of Football communications confirmed to The State News the hiring of Dykema, who will work as Senior Director of Football Strategy and Game Management.
A 2003 graduate of MSU, Dykema spent four years with the men’s basketball team as a student manager, including two seasons as head manager. During that time, the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA Championship, earned two Big Ten regular-season titles, captured one Big Ten Tournament title and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Final Fours.
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