Detroit Lions ownership offered a heartfelt speech after the team’s regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Detroit Lions closed out their 2023 regular season with a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings . The Lions moved to 12-5 on the season with the win, matching their franchise record for wins in a season. The only other time they reached 12 wins was the 1991 season, which culminated in the team’s only playoff win in the Super Bowl era and an NFC Championship appearance.
After the game, the Lions released their locker room celebration video, as they do following every win. However, this one was a little special. After coach Dan Campbell gave his typical rousing speech— “We have been hardened by adversity. We’ve been battle tested”—he credited ownership with turning this team around.
“To do what we’ve been able to do, man, you gotta have the right ownership,” Campbell said. “And I’m just telling you, it’s the Ford family, but Sheila (Hamp) is the one who we deal with, man, on a day-to-day basis. And without her…”
Then both Lions owner Sheila Hamp and former Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford take the stage and offer their heartfelt thoughts about the team.
“You guys are the best, and we’ve just begun,” Hamp says.
Then we get a rare statement from Ford, who during her reign mostly worked behind the scenes.
“I’m so proud of our whole team,” Ford said. “I mean, was it for how many years? Like 50? Sixty years (of ownership) and I have never been more proud than this season.”
Regardless of what you think of the Ford family, it’s a pretty special moment. Watch it here:
Winners win. pic.twitter.com/ayTJAlNX99
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 8, 2024