Sheila Ford Hamp: Detroit Lions Are Building Momentum
Detroit Lions principal owner Sheila Ford Hamp is optimistic about the direction the team is heading towards under the current leadership.
To put it simply, the owner of the Detroit Lions is excited for the future of her team.
After enduring the 3-13-1 2021 season, the organization’s first under the leadership of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, the team is seen as one that could be in the right direction.
In Hamp’s eyes, it’s because they’re sticking to the rebuild plan formulated last offseason. She explained this in a recently published interview with Lions team reporter Dannie Rogers.
“Sticking to the plan is often hard,” Hamp said. “You have the temptation to, ‘Oh let’s go out and get this player,’ or ‘Let’s do that.’ That’s just the way we want to build things. We want to build things with a solid foundation for the future, so then we are consistently a terrific team.”
One of the top areas the Lions have seen change is in their culture. Though the franchise has been mired in losing seasons for countless years, the owner believes that the new regime is doing things the right way.
This includes player acquisition and development. Hamp praised the culture implemented by Campbell and said the evidence is there that the approach is working.
“Culture change was first and foremost in the search process in the first place, to back it up to how we even ended up with Brad and Dan,” Hamp said. “Wanted it to be a much more sort of open, accessible, collaborative atmosphere. What I find so heartening is, we’re right in the middle of free agency, our players who are free agents want to come back here. Players want to be here and that’s a testament to Dan and his staff.”
It's not just Campbell, though, as he’s also brought in a staff of assistants that have helped to develop the team’s plethora of promising young players.
“Dan has brought in amazing assistant coaches who are terrific teachers,” Hamp said. “It’s just a joy to watch them in action with the players, and how the players have responded to them. Even though we didn’t have the record we wanted this season, we got better. We got better every game. The momentum is just great and we really know what we have now, rather than thinking, ‘Oh, maybe so and so is gonna be better with a few more snaps.’ We’ve seen it. Now we’re in free agency, we’re sticking to the plan. Brad’s draft research, the scouts and the work they’ve all done, it’s phenomenal and it’s so detailed and so thorough, I just have all the confidence that the right decisions are gonna be made.”
The team has signed just one free agent from an opposing team, but made a conscious effort to bring back several players from last year’s squad. Though this approach is unique, Hamp expressed her approval with the way the team has handled the offseason.
“I think we’ve done a great job so far,” Hamp said. “We want to upgrade in certain areas but I think the main thing is players that love football, and want to play football and want to be here. We really want players that want to be here in Detroit playing for Dan Campbell.”
Hamp said the team’s free agency would create a “clearer picture” of what the team will need to do in the draft.
Additionally, the third-year owner said her role is evolving as the team does. She wants to be actively involved and help the team reach its goals.
“I see my role evolving and changing in that I think we’ve got a great coach, I think we’ve got a terrific general manager,” Hamp said. “I want to know, be involved with them and their thinking and seeing how they work, and you let them do their work. But I have every confidence in them.”
