The Detroit Lions have a new general manager (Brad Holmes) and a new head coach (Dan Campbell) and it seems like the once-proud franchise (it actually was) is finally taking the steps necessary to make us proud.
Since the hires were made, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and team president Rod Wood have talked about why Holmes and Campbell were a perfect fit but many have been waiting for Chris Spielman to weigh in.
Spielman, who is now a special assistant to Ford Hamp, recently spoke to Chris Burke of The Athletic about the hires.
“(Sheila) had a great feel of what was needed around here,” Spielman said. “We all worked together to make that happen, we think. Only time answers that question. We think it’s been a thought-out, educated, thorough decision to put those two guys in the leadership of this organization.”
“When you talk to other scouts about who Brad Holmes is,” Spielman said, “his reputation around the league is amazing. Not only his ability to find and identify talent, but what type of person he is.”
Spielman went on to talk about how the interviews were more conversational which allowed them to really get a feel about who the candidates truly are as a person.
“Sheila was the lead on that. It was pretty cool to watch. I would jump in, Dis would jump in, Rod would jump in. You almost felt like you knew the guy his whole life when you were done talking to him. It was that type of conversation. I think that’s unique to this whole process.”
Spielman also admitted that he sees a little bit of himself in Campbell.
“There’s probably a little bit of Dan Campbell in the type of player I was,” Spielman said. “The best thing about these guys (Campbell and Holmes) … this might have been a part of the B-list criteria, but it was very important to me, and I always recognize great coaches do this: They surround themselves with great potential.”
Spielman made it clear that these hires were based on building a sustained contender rather than a “one-hit-wonder.”
“I don’t think it was a tough sell at all,” Spielman said. “Everybody that we interviewed understands what Detroit is. Our whole goal is not to be a one-hit wonder or a two-year deal. Our whole goal is sustained success. There’s a belief on how to do that.”
“Not a bit from the Patriots, not a bit from the Dolphins, not a bit from the 49ers, not a bit from the Vikings,” Spielman said. “Just take the things we maybe thought they did pretty well, kinda put it in the pot, shake it up and — boom! — out comes the Detroit Lion logo. That’s kinda the direction we’re trying to get to, and I think we’re on a good track.”
Only time will tell if this all works out but it sure seems like the Lions are finally getting it.
Glad to see Lions trying to change sounds positive, but like Chris said time will tell. Hope it all comes together.
The only time the Lions were good was when Chris Spielman played. Should of given him the coaching job and hired his brother for GM. But maybe since he has the CEOs ear they’ll draft more OSU players….# 1