Detroit Lions Owner Released Letter After Team's Crushing Playoff Loss
Yesterday at 04:29 PM
Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp sent a letter to fans following their early playoff exit.
The Lions set a single-season franchise record with 15 wins and entered the playoffs as a top contender to make their first Super Bowl. Those hopes instantly evaporated with a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round.
Via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lions season ticket holders received a message from Hamp on Tuesday.
"This is not the letter I was hoping to write to you this year. It's not the ending we wanted or were expecting," Hamp wrote. "The fact of the matter is this: we had a great year, a record-setting season but fell short of our ultimate goal."
Hamp thanked fans for creating "a legitimate home field advantage" at Ford Field and said their support "continues to fuel us toward bigger things."
"I am proud of the year we had. I am proud of our players, our coaches, our personnel department and our entire staff, because at the Lions we live the One Pride concept and truly win and lose together," Hamp said. "I know this weekend was difficult and the next few weeks will be hard to watch as other teams walk the path we envisioned, but please know that we have never been more motivated."
She also acknowledged that the team won't look the same next year. The Chicago Bears hired offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is also interviewing for head coaching jobs.
"I know the future will look different and the team that brought us so much success this year will never be together again," Hamp admitted. "Pieces will change, but we are confident in where we are going and more aligned than ever as to how we get there."
Hamp noted her desire to build a perennial contender. The Lions made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1993 and 1994 and repeated as division winners for the first time in the Super Bowl era.
"One of the goals I set for our franchise was to create sustained success. The last two years have started that process," Hamp said. "Back-to-back NFC North Division Championships and home playoff appearances are the type of successes that we envisioned, and we are on the path to continuing that."
Related: Dan Campbell's Wife Reacts To Detroit's Heartbreaking Loss Saturday
