Tag: Martha Ford

4 years after Sheila Hamp took over the Lions, no more ‘sell the team’ cries

4 years after Sheila Hamp took ownership of the Detroit Lions, no more ‘sell the team’ cries

Four years ago today, on June 23rd of 2020, Sheila Ford Hamp took over as the principal owner of the Detroit Lions. Hamp took the reins that day from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, who had run the Lions since her late husband’s death in 2014.

In looking back on that fateful day, the initial response from fans was generally, uh, unsupportive–to be kind. The most common reaction from the One Pride fan base back in June of 2020 was the near-ubiquitous battle cry:

“Sell the team!”

The Ford family was, quite understandably, very unpopular as NFL owners at that time. Just one postseason victory in 57 years of Ford ownership of the Lions had made anyone associated with the family patently inept in the eyes of most fans.

This was the very first response to the above post, from a longtime Detroit-area sports personality:

That someone had gone through the effort and expense to create and unfurl a “sell the team” banner at a Lions home game featuring the nonagenarian owner demonstrates how lowly regarded the Ford family was in Detroit.

Flash forward to June 23, 2024 and think about this…

When was the last time you heard a Lions fan demanding Sheila Hamp sell the team for the greater good of Detroit sports? After a thorny start with an inherited coach and GM who might have been even more unpopular than the Ford family at the time, the change in public perception of Lions ownership in four short years is nothing short of miraculous.

Hamp got her first hirings right in GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell — both of which were not exactly universally embraced moves at the time either. She had the awareness of just how wretched of a state the team was in after deposing the failed QuinnTricia regime.

She had the gumption to bring back franchise legend Chris Spielman to help guide what everyone knew would be a rough rebuild.

She had the temerity to let these unknown rookies at their management positions trade away the face of the franchise.

She had the perseverance to not throw out the baby with the bathwater when the cleansing didn’t start so smoothly.

She authorized any resources, both on-field and off-field, that Holmes and his staff wanted for the organization.

She listened to fan complaints about Ford Field and actually did something about them.

She opened the pursestrings to reward premium, homegrown talent instead of overpaying for other teams’ expensive free agents.

She supported controversial choices by Holmes and Campbell, from draft trades to play calls.

In short, Sheila Hamp has made it possible to be proud to be a Lions fan. Not many expected that back in the early summer of 2020 when Hamp took over for her mother.

Happy ownership anniversary, Lions fans. This is one worthy of celebrating, finally!

Watch: Dan Miller interviews Lions’ President Rod Wood

The “Voice of the Lions” Dan Miller interviews Detroit Lions’ President Rod Wood following Shelia Ford Hamp’s elevation to principal owner.

Recently, the “Voice of the Lions” Dan Miller interviewed Detroit Lions’ President Rod Wood following Shelia Ford Hamp’s elevation to principal owner, discussing a variety of topics.

The interview begins like most in today’s climate, with a focus around how Wood’s job has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We left (Allen Park) thinking we’d be gone for a couple of weeks and everything would get back to normal,” Wood said, “and now here we are almost the end of June, and everybody’s (still) working from home.”

Miller then pivoted the conversation towards what type of legacy Martha Firestone Ford was leaving behind.

“(She) became widely respected within the league,” Wood said. “And admired. And I don’t know that ever heard anybody, including Roger Goodell (NFL Comminishiner), call her anything other than Mrs. Ford — and that shows the level of respect that she had.”

Once the conversation shifted towards Shelia Ford Hamp, Wood discussed her (and the rest of the Ford families) desire to win, Hamp’s ability to gain experience working side-by-side with her mother, and creating her own mark as a leader.

Other topics discussed include the organization’s technological support team, how technology can help the team in the future, coaching/team leadership, the team bonding via social justice discussions and pandemic related situations, as well as how Wood’s job has changed in 2020, and how Allen Park is being prepped for football in the fall.

You can watch the entire 26-minute video of Wood’s interview below (courtesy of the Lions’ YouTube page):

Even after bitter departures, Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs still show love for Matthew Stafford

Their respect for Stafford and Martha Ford shone through a lot of rehashed negativity at Patricia

Former Lions defensive backs Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs had an Instagram live session on Friday night. As you might expect from the way the two standouts have handled themselves since happily becoming ex-Lions, much of the conversation was bitter and highly critical of Detroit coach Matt Patricia.

That’s not news. Their negative opinion of Patricia and his coaching style, especially in his first season in Detroit in 2018, is well-documented.

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In listening to the over one-hour conversation the two close friends shared with the public, there was a surprising amount of positivity from Slay and Diggs. Some of it was doled out for Lions owner Martha Ford, who both men clearly hold in high regard. They each expressed gratitude and appreciation for the owner, only regretting that she made a poor choice in hiring Patricia.

The biggest love and praise was for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Both Slay and Diggs had nothing but positive things to say about the longtime Lions QB. They showed him love for his play but also for his leadership and off-field class.

Slay backed it up on Saturday on Twitter, too:

The full conversation, which is most definitely NSFW, is available on Slay’s Instagram page.