Sheila Ford Hamp, who was among the first group of women to enroll at Yale as a freshman and graduate, met NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1973. She told him that working for the league was all she had ever wanted to do.
She had gotten to know the late Rozelle by sitting next to him at some meals and going to many of the same events as him because she was the owner of the Detroit Lions.
However, her gender proved to be a barrier that relationships were unable to get past.
She remembered on Tuesday that “way back when, he genuinely could not think of anything for a female to do.” “A lot of things have changed. And I believe it’s fantastic.
Her mother is stepping down from her position as head of the NFL team, and Hamp is taking over as chairman and principal owner of the Lions. Hamp stated that her mother, who is 94 years old, made the choice and that she is in good health.
The team president, Rod Wood, stated, “This has been a long-planned shift of ownership.”
The Lions declared that Martha Firestone Ford has stepped down from her ownership role after six seasons. Following her husband’s death, she assumed control.
Ford released a statement saying, “Being connected with the Lions and the National Football League has been a great honor for our family.” “I’m happy that Sheila will be in charge of carrying on our family heritage, which my husband and I started about 60 years ago.
“It is evident to me that Sheila is entirely dedicated to both community involvement and competitive excellence, and she will lead with exceptional skill.”
According to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Ford guided the Lions with grace and expertise.
“Her passion for the game, her unwavering devotion to the NFL, and her business acumen have all impressed me,” Goodell remarked.
Throughout her mother’s ownership of the team, 68-year-old Hamp served as vice chairwoman, participating in committee work and ownership meetings. She is a member of the Detroit Lions Charities Board and the NFL’s Super Bowl and Major Events Committee.
Over the past few years, Sharon Hamp has “gotten more and more active in team and league issues,” according to Goodell.
Although Ford, the granddaughter of tire tycoon Harvey Firestone, rarely talked to reporters or made public comments on the franchise’s course, her influence was noticed. As part of a midseason shakeup in 2015, the team sacked its general manager and president. Ford informed supporters that the team’s goal was to “find and hire the very best leadership in order to develop a consistently winning football team” when she made the announcement.
After selecting Bob Quinn as their new general manager, the Lions qualified for the 2016 postseason. They haven’t returned since, though. After Jim Caldwell was fired by Detroit, Matt Patricia took over as coach. In his first two seasons, Patricia is 9-22-1.
Ford maintained a low profile in public, but she was active in the group.
In 2015, Caldwell declared, “I think visible ownership is great, and Mrs. Ford handles it really effectively.” She is present both before and after games, and I believe that the players like that aspect of it. It’s been enjoyable because she attends practices and similar events.
Ford was one of four female team owners—Norma Hunt of Kansas City, Virginia Halas McCaskey of Chicago, and Patricia Rooney of Pittsburgh—who were highlighted in the documentary “A Lifetime of Sundays.”
For Hamp, it was not insignificant that a woman would become the first female owner of an NFL team.
She remarked, “I think it’s very fantastic, actually.” “Mom truly set the bar high for me. I see that there are a lot more female owners of NFL teams these days. So, a lot has changed.
