The name “Ford” and the Detroit Lions have been synonymous since the 1960s.
William Clay Ford first garnered minority ownership of the franchise in 1961, a time during which he was the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Ford Motor Company. He eventually became sole owner of the team two years later. Now, nearly 65 years later, another member of the family, Sheila Ford Hamp, sits at the helm of the NFC North champions.
The descendant of the legendary CEO now has a chance on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif., to accomplish a feat none of her family members have experienced: Accepting the George Halas Trophy awarded annually to the NFC champions.
How Much Does Sheila Ford Hamp Make?
Ford Hamp is the NFL’s 23rd wealthiest owner — reeling in a net worth of $2 billion.
However, the heiress to the Lions’ throne hasn’t been with the franchise very long.
Back in 2020, her mother — Firestone Tires CEO Martha Firestone Ford — had control of the team until she stepped down in June of that year. That development led to the first time in NFL history that ownership of a franchise went from one woman to another.
Ford Hamp immediately took the reins. One of her first major decisions was the hire of head coach Dan Campbell, who now has the Lions one victory away from their first Super Bowl appearance.
In addition to the lucrative venture of running an NFL franchise, she’s also involved in several other successful ventures.
What Else Is Ford Hamp Involved in?
She’s equally involved in her mother’s company, Firestone Tires.
That means that Ford Hamp helps oversee three different ventures — the Lions, Ford, and Firestone. How was she able to work her way up the ladder into ownership, though?
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It begins with her Ivy League education. Ford Hamp is a graduate of Yale University. She made history in 1973 by joining the first graduating class that featured female grads. Ford Hamp was even a student-athlete at the prestigious university as a tennis player.
Her educational pursuits didn’t end with Yale, though. She went on to Boston University and earned a master’s degree in teaching and early childhood education.
While she’s the current owner of the Lions, Ford Hamp has been involved with the team for at least a decade. She became more involved with the team in 2014 alongside her mother. Outside of hiring Campbell, Ford Hamp was the main person involved in firing Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn as head coach and general manager, respectively, in Jan. 2021.
Her ancestors have witnessed high and low moments with the Lions. That includes the 1991 run to the NFC Championship Game, as well as the infamous 0-16 season of 2008. Now, Ford Hamp has a chance to witness long-awaited history involving her family, the franchise, and the city of Detroit, if the Lions stun the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
She has a chance to join a growing list of female owners whose teams have participated in the Super Bowl. Norma Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) and Denise York (San Francisco 49ers) are two of the more recent who watched their teams play in the big game, as both were involved in Super Bowl LIV.
Years earlier, the late St. Louis Rams owner Georgia Frontiere (best known as “Madame Ram”) watched her team capture their first Vince Lombardi Trophy by beating the Tennessee Titans.
KEEP READING: Detroit Lions Playoff History
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