Looking at what Sheila Hamp has done as Detroit Lions owner that has led the franchise to so much success.
As pointed out by Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network, this week marks the five-year anniversary of Sheila Hamp being named Detroit Lions owner .
It’s been an unprecedented string of successes since Hamp took over—a development few saw coming. With nearly 60 years of failure under Ford ownership, Hamp’s promotion to ownership was met with plenty of warranted skepticism. But it’s hard to argue with the results in such a short time.
Under Hamp, the Lions have produced back-to-back division titles for the first time in since the 1950s, won more playoff games than the Lions had in the entire Super Bowl era, set a franchise record for wins in a season, and, most importantly, have a well-respected franchise that has produced sustained success for 2.5 seasons.
While most of Hamp’s work has been done behind closed doors, she has certainly been a bit more transparent than her predecessors. So today’s Question of the Day is:
What has made Sheila Hamp so successful as Lions owner?
My answer: Establishing a culture of transparency and trust.
One of the most captivating Hamp quotes from Rogers’ look back on her five years was this one:
“The whole idea that football is secret and we’re not going to tell anybody what we’re doing, it was like, ‘What?’” Hamp told me in an exclusive interview for the Detroit News ahead of the 2021 season. “Obviously, you don’t want to tell your opponents what your game plan is, but you want the fans to know what you’re doing. I felt like with this organization, I want everyone to feel like they’re a part of it, that their piece is important, because it is. We can’t do this alone. You can’t.”
Coming off the Matt Patricia era—when information was locked down like a fortress and team employees walked the halls fearful of their every move—this philosophy has been the most welcomed change both from a media and a fan standpoint. As a reporter, it means more access, better information, and genuine answers from everyone in the building. As a fan, it means the players and coaches you root for every week are being treated with the kind of respect they deserve and the freedom to be themselves at all times. It’s much easier to root for a team when you know the very fundamental need of being comfortable and relaxed at work is treated like the biggest priority. It also helps fill the team with players eager to join this culture.
How many times have we heard a player or coach praise the organization for allowing them to be themselves? Whether it’s Jared Goff being allowed to be part of the offensive game plan, the offensive line being asked of their favorite plays, or Kelvin Sheppard being told that he doesn’t need to look more professional because they hired Kelvin Sheppard —that insistence on empowerment and trust clearly comes from top down, and I believe that is a big reason why the Detroit Lions are successful.
Is there something you’ve noticed about Hamp that has led to her success as Lions owner? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.