Detroit Lions Vice Chairmen and Board of Directors
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Ford Family ......................................................... 4-6 Front Office ....................................................... 8-11 Coaching Staff ............................................... 14-43 Player Personnel ........................................... 46-65 Football Administration ............................... 68-76 Executives ..................................................... 78-80 Football Support Staff ................................. 82-85 Staff Directory .............................................. 86-88 Player Bios .................................................. 90-240 2019 - Season Statistics ................................. 240 Lions Honors .............................................. 264-279 Records ............................................................. 280 History Book .............................................. 322-395 1 FORD FAMILY On June 23, 2020, Sheila Ford Hamp succeeded her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, as Principal Owner and Chairman of the Detroit Lions. Over the last six seasons (2014-19), Mrs. Hamp most recently served as one of the team’s vice chairmen during her mother’s ownership. Mrs. Hamp carries the Ford Family’s proud legacy that was first established by her father, William Clay Ford, who passed away on March 9, 2014, after serving as the sole owner of the franchise for 50 seasons (1964-2013). Mr. Ford’s ownership grew into a deeply-rooted family tradition that now includes multiple generations of the Ford Family. At the age of five, Mrs. Hamp, the second of four children, began attending Lions games at Briggs (Tiger) Stadium and Lions training camp at Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. As a teenager, her love of the Lions and knowledge of the game of football would impress many, including then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Now as Principal Owner and Chairman, Mrs. Hamp focuses that love, knowledge and commitment to the team that has been part of her family for decades. She also serves on the NFL’s Super Bowl and Major Events Committee and the board for Detroit Lions Charities. Beyond her involvement with the Lions, Mrs. Hamp and her husband, Steve, are very active in numerous community and charitable organizations. Together they Co-Chair the board of the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Mich. Mrs. Hamp also is the Vice- Chairman of the Board of the Henry Ford. In addition, she serves on the Boards of The Ford Motor Company Fund and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. Mrs. Hamp was a member of the ground-breaking group of students who were in the first class of women to graduate from Yale University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Yale, she played varsity tennis and earned Major Y honors during her college career. Following her graduation from Yale, she earned her Masters of Arts degree in teaching and early childhood education from Boston University. Sports have always been an integral part of Mrs. Hamp’s life. In addition to her accomplishments as a college tennis player, she competed as a junior tennis player at the national level and won a Michigan State tennis title at age 17. She also coached youth soccer for more than 10 years in her current home town of Ann Arbor, where she and her husband, Steve, raised their family. 4 DETROIT LIONS VICE CHAIRMEN AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS The unique relationship between the Ford Family and The Detroit Lions... ... goes all the way back to 1934, the very first season the Lions ever played in Detroit, when William Clay Ford attended his first Lions game with his father, Edsel Ford. In 1963, Mr. Ford would purchase the Lions and become sole owner, and over the past six decades the passion and love Mr. Ford had for the Lions was shared with his wife, Martha, their children and grand-children. Upon Mr. Ford’s passing in 2014, the Lions remained in the family as Mrs. Ford assumed majority ownership, and in 2020 she was succeeded by her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp. Mrs. Hamp is supported directly by her three siblings, Martha Ford Morse, William Clay Ford Jr. and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis, each of whom serve as the team’s vice chairmen and on the board of directors. Each of the vice chairmen, along with Mrs. Ford and President and CEO Rod Wood, served on the team’s Advisory Board, which was established in November of 2015 to help assist in the search for a new General Manager. That search led to the hiring of Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Bob Quinn, and then two years later to the hiring of Head Coach Matt Patricia. All three children also are members of the Board of Trustees for Detroit Lions Charities. The vice chairmen’s involvement with the Lions dates back to when they also attended games during their childhood. Years later, they now remain deeply devoted, along with their mother, to overseeing and governing the Lions with one primary goal in mind -- to bring Detroit a Super Bowl title. The Ford Family continues the legacy left by Mr. Ford to support the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan with transformative philanthropy, while also establishing the Lions organization as exemplary on and off the field. MARTHA FORD MORSE WILLIAM CLAY FORD JR. ELIZABETH FORD KONTULIS VICE CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN 5 Following six seasons (2014-19) as the In March 2019 as part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th Detroit Lions Owner and Chairman... season, Mrs. Ford starred in the NFL Films production A Lifetime of Sundays, a documentary highlighting the lives of Martha Firestone Ford now serves as Chairman Emeritus and four matriarchs of the NFL family – Mrs. Martha Firestone Ford supports her four children – Principal Owner and Chairman (Detroit Lions), Mrs. Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears), Sheila Ford Hamp, Vice Chairman Martha Ford Morse, Vice Mrs. Patricia Rooney (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Mrs. Norma Chairman William Clay Ford. Jr, and Vice Chairman Elizabeth Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs). The film debuted at the NFL Annual Ford Kontulis – in the organizational leadership of the Meeting before airing on ESPN to a national audience. franchise. Born in Akron, Ohio, Mrs. Ford is the granddaughter of one of Mrs. Ford succeeded her husband, William Clay Ford, who America’s great automotive industrial icons, Harvey Firestone. passed away on March 9, 2014, after serving as the sole She graduated from Vassar College in 1946 with a bachelor’s owner of the franchise for 50 seasons (1964-2013). Following degree. After getting married in 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Ford moved her husband’s passing, Mrs. Ford became the fifth principal to New Haven, Conn., where Mr. Ford attended Yale. The couple owner or syndicate group to own and operate the franchise relocated to the Detroit area in 1952 and became active since it moved to Detroit in 1934. members of the Metro Detroit community. Along with the entire Ford Family, Mrs. Ford appreciates the Mrs. Ford also serves on the board for Detroit Lions Charities unwavering support of Lions fans and knows that winning and is an Honorary Trustee on The Henry Ford Health System and bringing a Super Bowl title to Detroit remains the team’s Board of Trustees. She has held leadership positions with primary goal. Beyond success on the field, she desires to many organizations, including The Merrill Palmer Institute, deliver one of the best fan gameday experiences in all of The University Liggett School, and The Children’s Home of sports. Under her ownership, the team made significant Detroit. She was also the founder and longtime board member investments to Ford Field, including a $100 million stadium of The Maple Grove Institute. renovation in 2017. Along with her four children, Mrs. Ford also has 14 In addition to her contributions to the football team, Mrs. grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Ford also has made a positive impact in the community. In June 2016, she was honored with the 2016 Zero Tolerance Award from the Detroit Public Safety Foundation at the annual “Women in Blue” banquet for the team’s stance on domestic violence. In January 2019, the Lions announced an initial $600,000 commitment from Mrs. Ford and players toward the launch of Detroit Lions Inspire Change, a new social justice initiative in the City of Detroit. At the end of the 2019 season, Mrs. Ford and players announced an additional wave of funding through grants to nine Metro Detroit organizations. Funds generated for the team’s social justice initiative will focus on three community pillars as determined by the players – Scholarship Funding, Social-Educational Programs and Medical Aid/Health Assistance. 6 FRONT OFFICE As Detroit Lions Team President and CEO, Rod Wood overseas all football and business operations of the Lions organization and reports directly to Principal Owner and Chairman Sheila Ford Hamp. He was appointed team president on Nov. 19, 2015. Upon his hiring, Wood immediately began evaluating all business functions within the Lions and Ford Field. Concurrent with his organizational evaluation, Wood assisted the Ford Family with the search and ultimate hiring of Bob Quinn as the franchise’s new general manager in 2016. On Feb. 5, 2018, the Lions hired Matt Patricia as the 27th head coach in franchise history following his 14 seasons with the New England Patriots. Wood’s “everything is on the table” approach to shaping the team's business affairs has made a tangible and positive impact on both the Lions' and Ford Field's business operations, on and off the field. In his five years, Wood has implemented significant changes that range from day-to-day operations to new branding and has done so guided by a mission to improve the team’s competitive financial position, fan engagement and overall customer experience. Wood has strengthened the Lions and Ford Field brands with improved business partnerships and more strategic alliances that positively influence business initiatives and provide necessary financial support to the club’s football operations. In February 2017, Wood unveiled plans for the first major renovation to the Detroit Lions’ home stadium, Ford Field, since it opened its doors in 2002.