Recently, the Athletic’s Lindsay Jones identified the top 40 rising stars (under 40-year-olds) who were shaping the direction of the NFL (paid $) and Detroit Lions’ Vice President of football administration Mike Disner made the list.
“The Lions’ vice president of football administration started out as a Patriots summer intern while working toward an economics degree and playing baseball at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.,” Jones said. “Disner worked in scouting for the Patriots after that, then transitioned to the NFL’s Management Council leading into the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Seven seasons as contract negotiator and cap analyst for the Cardinals and Lions rounds out his NFL resume.”
Disner, a West Bloomfield native, is no stranger to “rising star” honors after being named to Forbes “30 Under 30” list, recognizing the top 30 athletes or executives under 30 years of age back in 2014.
In just over a year and a half with the Lions — he was hired in January of 2018 — Disner’s experience and expertise managing the salary cap has been a huge asset for general manager Bob Quinn and he is a large reason why the Lions are set up to withstand a potential drop in NFL salary cap after 2020 season.
Under Disner’s leadership, the Lions currently have around $23 million in salary cap space for the 2020 season — 5th most in the NFL — and if the 2021 salary cap stays the same, the Lions could enter the offseason with upwards of $50 million in available funds for the second year in a row.
On behalf of Lions Wire, congrats to Disner on the recognition!