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Detroit Lions Part Ways with Head Athletic Trainer Dave Granito

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirms report that Dave Granito is no longer the head athletic trainer of the team.

John Maakaron

The Detroit Lions are currently in talks to hire a new head athletic trainer, as Dave Granito and the organization have parted ways. 

Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the report in his media session following the Lions' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, 16-15.

According to Lions reporter Kory Woods, who first reported the dismissal, "There was a rift between Campbell and Granito, which led to him being relieved of his duties, per source."

Granito was in his second season with the organization, after most recently serving as the director of athletic training for the University of Michigan Football program from 2016-18.

During his time with the Wolverines, he developed close ties with the Lions' team physician, orthopedist Asheesh Bedi.

"It's just, I felt like this way, the way we needed to go," Campbell said. "I don't really want to get into details of it. I can tell you this, our guys were getting proper treatment -- nothing like that. It felt like we needed to go another way. Communication and some of those things. So, we did make that move."

Campbell added, "We are in talks with someone, but I am not going to give you that name right now. In the meantime, (assistant athletic trainer) Tom Colt has taken over. He's done a really good job. We put some stress on him, and he's answered the bell." 

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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!

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