New Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp promises to be more available to media

For Detroit Lions fans, team ownership has been shrouded in mystery for the past few decades. The Ford Family—be it the late William Clay Ford, Sr. or Martha Firestone Ford—rarely stepped in front of a camera or podium to talk about the franchise they’ve owned since the early 1960s, preferring to run the team in the shadows instead.

And while that doesn’t mean they haven’t been involved and emotionally engaged in the team, it can be frustrating from an outside perspective to never hear from the people that have been incapable of bringing a successful football team to the city of Detroit in six decades.

However, there’s hope that may change with new ownership. Martha Firestone Ford stepped down as principal owner of the team on Tuesday, leaving it to her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp. And Ford Hamp seemed quite open to the idea of chatting with the media more often than her predecessors.

“Well, I’ll do things from time to time, for sure. Happy to talk,” Ford Hamp said in her introductory press conference on Tuesday. “I’m not sure I’m looking for a career in television or radio. It’ll be as we go. I’ll see how it is. Yes, I will talk to the media at times.”

While this change isn’t one that will bring more wins or championship rings to Detroit, it is a nice change of pace and a good gesture to fans that have been seeking answers from ownership for years. Let’s just hope she lives up to her word when the time comes.