ALLEN PARK — It is not a coincidence that the Detroit Lions’ fortunes started their turn-around when Sheila Ford Hamp took over for her mother as principal owner and chair of the team.
This is not lost on Dan Campbell, the first coach she hired after inheriting Matt Patricia when she took over in June 2020.
Campbell, who was not a conventional hire, has brought the Lions to the NFC Championship for the first time in 32 years. They face the 49ers at San Francisco on Sunday. A win would earn them a trip to the Super Bowl.
Hamp works closely with the team, is often seen at practice and around the team facility. On draft night she’s in the war room with GM Brad Holmes and his staff. She knows what is going on and undoubtedly she made the right decision in hiring Campbell.
“It means a lot, I always wanted to do that. I always wanted to prove her right. It’s not an easy thing to do to take a chance on somebody that nobody knows about or thinks deserves a shot or whatever it is,’’ Campbell said on Thursday. “And so to trust your instincts and trust people around you and to pull the trigger, it means a lot, it sure does.’’
Campbell said once he got to know her, it made sense that she took a chance on him.
“She’s one of one, she’s unique. I’ll say this — everything we are and what we’re about started with her, it’s really her, it’s her vision,’’ the coach said.
“I’m fortunate she allows me to be myself. I don’t feel i have to be somebody I’m not. You can’t always do that and so with that I can coach, I can do what I need to do and I appreciate that,’’ he added.
The story is not over yet.
“She took a chance on me and yeah, it feels good to prove her right, but we’re not done either,’’ Campbell said.
Houston getting closer
Pass rusher James Houston is “very close” to getting back on the field, per defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Houston broke his ankle in Week 2 and has not played since then.
“We want to protect that player from himself for the most part. I do not take injuries lightly,’’ Glenn said on Thursday.
The coordinator said Houston is doing a good job in practice.
“He’s getting back to form, to the way, hopefully we’ll get a chance to get him on the field so he can make plays for us,’’ Glenn said.
Award time
Lions coach Dan Campbell is one of five finalists in the Associated Press NFL Awards released on Thursday. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson made the cut in the assistant coaches category.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs are two of five finalists for offensive rookie of the year.
Lions GM Brad Holmes was named the NFL Executive of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America.
UP NEXT: NFC Championship game featuring Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m., Sunday on FOX.
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