nfl

Who is the Lions' owner? Meet Sheila Ford Hamp & more to know about Ford family tree

28-01-2024
3 min read
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The Lions could be headed to the Super Bowl with one of their best seasons ever under head coach Dan Campbell and owner Sheila Ford Hamp.

Detroit recorded an overall record of 12-5 in 2023, bringing home a division title for the first time in three decades. Since hired, Campbell's squad has looked like an entirely new Lions team that will be able to achieve postseason success on a regular basis.

Here's everything to know about Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp (also known as Sheila Firestone Ford), and the family that surrounds her.

MORE: Lions-49ers pick

Who is the Lions' owner?

Ford, born on Oct. 31, 1951, currently serves as the owner of the Lions in addition to being an American businesswoman as a descendant of both the Ford and the Firestone families, who have made a huge impact on the automotive industry for years.

She went to school at Yale, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1973 as a member of the first class that included women. Ford also competed in tennis there.

She also is a part of the NFL's Super Bowl and Major Events Committee. Ford has had a major role in the Lions team since her mother took over back in 2014. The passing of the ownership there marked the first time ownership of an NFL team had exchanged hands between two women in league history.

She's made multiple significant decisions for the team, including the firing of GM Martin Mayhew and executive Tom Lewand in 2015 and the decision to retain both general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia in '19.

She also fired Quinn and Patricia in one of her first major moves as the team's executive figure in November of 2020 after the 4-7 start to the season.

Ford family tree, other notable names

Hamp surpassed her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, as the owner of the Lions in June of 2020. 

Ford's father was William Clay Ford Sr., who was the son of Edsel Ford and the grandson of Henry Ford. All have played a role in the legendary Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

Hamp's siblings include Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford, Lynn Ford, and Elizabeth Ford.