There has been some speculation that the Ford family would be selling the Lions in the near future, speculation that was largely fueled by long-time Detroit sportscaster Eli Zaret, who said on a recent podcast that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos would buy the team in 2020.
But per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, that is not the case. Team president Rod Wood said there has indeed been outside interest in purchasing the Lions, but Wood said there have been no serious discussions in that regard. Controlling owner Martha Ford is 94, and while she remains just as involved and visible as any other controlling owner — as Birkett writes, she is an active participant in league meetings and regularly meets with head coach Matt Patricia to discuss the franchise — the team obviously needs a succession plan.
And while neither Wood, Ford, nor Ford’s daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, have disclosed the details of that succession plan, Wood has consistently maintained that the team will remain in the Ford family, just as it has been for the past 60 years. The franchise has not experienced a great deal of success in that time, and fans have been plenty vocal about their desire to have the Fords sell the team, but that does not appear likely to happen anytime soon.
It seems that Ford Hamp may take over as controlling owner when Ford is no longer able to serve in that capacity. As Birkett notes, Ford Hamp has taken a bigger role in running the franchise in recent seasons. She is one of the four vice chairs of the Lions, and she began serving on the NFL’s Super Bowl and Major Events Committee this spring.
Recently, Ford indicated that Patricia and GM Bob Quinn would be back with the team next season.
Good. I’m not a Lions fan, but believe they have been good owners. They haven’t won much, but I don’t put that onus squarely on ownership.
Who do you blame then? 60 years is a whole lot of GM’s, HC’s, and players. The only constant is the owner.
How could you not?? The nfl is set up for new teams to contend . The lions haven’t won a championship since 1958 or a playoff game since 1991. The ownership is who is exactly to blame
What kind of narrative are you trying to spin? You really think the league is to blame for the lions being awful? I can’t help but remember 2008 hahahahaha… sigh
What in the world? The Lions have been nothing but a freak show under this ownership. They’re worse than the incompetent McCaskey’s.
Name one redeeming quality that justifies keeping the Lions with the Ford family.
I know I am a bear fan too and the lions make the mccaskeys look good and that is saying a lot
They built a nice stadium, instead of landing an alien toilet bowl on their stadium like the McCaskeys.
And have won what with that nice stadium?
Blame the Chicago architects for Soldier Space Field.
Not necessary. The Fords own the team now. That is the only justification needed for them to continue to own the team.
They make money. Regardless of what any business owner says, making money is priority number one. The Lions had a terrible bad deal lease in Pontiac when they fled Detroit. No parking revenue, no Suite Sales revenue and no concession revenue, just ticket sales. They made money.
As the Silverdome aged and it was fashionable to move to downtown Detroit into a taxpayer subsidized stadium, they set things up to make more money.
It’s not as if they won’t spend money, the results of that spend haven’t borne fruit, but still they make money.
Stop buying tickets, stop buying merchandise, don’t support sponsors and when the income stream falters and they stop making money, then you may see a change.
Firing the last head coach, Jim Caldwell, the winningest coach in Detroit Lions history, with a 36-28 record (.563) in a franchise which historically delivers coaches with records like 10-38 and 5-27 ranks as one of the most colossal bits of owner stupidity in the last ten years.
I think the rap was Caldwell didn’t win enough playoff games. Fortunately batty old Ford won’t have to worry about playoff victories any time in the near or distant future. You can’t lose a playoff game if you don’t get there.
I’ve been huge Lions fan for over 30 years. This team consistently takes two steps forward, five steps back. I’d love to see new ownership in Detroit. I mean, it couldn’t get any worse, could it?
Is that really THE Betty Ford?
At age 94 having your money invested in the Detroit Lions is just as good as having it invested in funeral homes.
Since the Ford’s have owned the Lions, some 56 years, the Lions have had 17 winning seasons, 3 Division Titles, and 1 playoff win. Prior to the Ford’s gaining control of the Lions in 30 years, the Lions had 17 winning season, and 4 Championship. They took a good football team and have driven it into brick wall with their incompetent.