Detroit Lions Owner

Established in 1930, the Detroit Lions are a professional NFL football team. The Lions were originally founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, where they were known as the Portsmouth Spartans. In 1934, the team relocated to Detroit and was renamed the Detroit Lions. Based in Detroit, they participate as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division in the NFL.

After relocating to Detroit in 1934, the Detroit Lions were owned by George A. Richards until 1940. Ownership then passed to Fred L. Mandel Jr., who led the team from 1940 to 1948. The Detroit Football Company took over from 1948 to 1964. William Clay Ford Sr. was the owner from 1964 until 2014, followed by Martha Firestone Ford from 2014 to 2020. Since 2020, Sheila Ford Hamp has been the owner. Over their 94-year history, the Detroit Lions have won four league championships, all of which were NFL championships before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. They have also secured four conference championships and six division championships. Despite these achievements, the team has not appeared in a Super Bowl as of January 2025.

Who owns the Detroit Lions?

Sheila Ford Hamp, previously known as Sheila Firestone Ford, holds ownership of the Detroit Lions and serves as its chairwoman. She is both a businesswoman and a sports franchise owner.

Sheila Firestone Ford was born on October 31, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, to William Clay Ford Sr. and Martha Parke Firestone. After completing her early education at Boston University, she attended Yale University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973 and later pursued a Master's degree in teaching and early childhood education at Boston University (via Detroit Free Press). After serving as a vice chairwoman of the Lions since 2014, she took over ownership in 2020.