Martha Firestone Ford has stepped down as the principal owner and chairman of the Lions, per a club announcement. Her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, will move up the ladder to take on both roles.
“Martha Ford has led the Lions with skill and grace for the past six seasons,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “I have appreciated her business insights, her love of the game, her deep commitment to the NFL, and her personal kindness. We are pleased that the Ford family will continue to own and operate this historic franchise. Sheila Hamp has become increasingly involved in team and league affairs over the past several years and we look forward to working with her and the rest of the club’s executive team.”
Martha Firestone Ford took over as Detroit’s principal owner and chairman in 2014 when her husband William Clay Ford passed away. Per the team’s succession plan, her daughter – previously a vice chairman – is now at the helm.
“My mother has inspired all of us since taking on leadership of the Lions over six years ago,” Hamp said. “She has been a tireless leader to our family, our team and our community. Her smart decisions have given me a solid foundation to take the team forward. On behalf of the family and the team, I want to thank her for her countless contributions. I look forward to leading the Lions to excellence on and off the field.”
“Skill and grace” are not the words that come to mind when I think of the Lions.
ZERO Super Bowl appearances does not equate to skill.
Just 50 years of bad luck?
But extremely graceful bad luck.
I have to admit that in the recent years there has been some unfortunate luck…but certainly there has been a lot of bad decision making in there too.
When we wanted rid of Ford we meant the family entirely! Be a figurehead at the games and give control over to a football manager.
Ownership has been passed from one elderly person to a slightly less elderly person. Stay hungry, Lions!
90% of second generation businesses succeed.
90% of third generation businesses fail.
Good luck with that nepotistic chain of command. Going well so far.
The lions shut off comments on their Instagram feed as to not affect the grace of this announcement. #selltheteam
Cleveland, Detroit, Jacksonville and Houston are they only franchises to never appear in a Super Bowl. Jacksonville is fairly new, Houston had a hiatus for a bit but there’s no excuse for the other 2.
I think all of Houston’s pre-Texans stuff are still associated with the Titans. Still pretty new.
Correct. The Titans own the Oilers’ two AFL championships and any records associated with Earl Campbell and Warren Moon.
How are the lions considered historic
Historically awful. They’ve just been pitiful ever since Bobby Layne cursed that team back in 1957. Imagine if Stafford hadn’t landed in their laps. They might be running on a 20 year postseason drought
The team started as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1928 and moved to Detroit in 1934, making them one of the oldest franchises in the NFL.
Famines and droughts are often mentioned in history thus historic
and……….this changes nothing.
Same dog wearing a new collar.
Lions fans have nothing to fear. The transition from Martha to daughter will be transparent. You shouldn’t notice anything in the way the team is run or performs.
Though there could be more pandering as Sheila has indicated an interest as is the popular thing these days to sign CK.