Was the Chris Spielman hiring a ‘win’ for the Detroit Lions?

Spielman will be the Lions front office football mind

Ever since William Clay Ford Sr. purchased the Detroit Lions back in 1963, this franchise has lacked a true football mind in the front office to help make important football decisions.

Now the Lions have one. Chris Spielman has returned to the franchise that he loves in the capacity of an advisor to help Sheila and team president Rod Wood find their next general manager and head coach.

In a virtual press conference Tuesday afternoon, Spielman humbly expressed his desire to use that advisory role to give Sheila his input to select the next regime that will run the Detroit Lions.

As anyone who saw Spielman play the game would expect he also displayed passion and enthusiasm. He admitted that this will not be Matt Millen part two. He considers himself unqualified to fill the role of general manager, despite the fact that his brother Rick occupies that position for the Lions divisional rival the Minnesota Vikings.

Spielman will simply use what he has learned over the years to give Sheila the perspective of a football mind. He will sit in on the interviews for the Lions’ next general manager and head coach as well as do his own follow-up with those who have already been interviewed.

One valuable thought Spielman expressed during his introductory press conference was how part of finding the ‘right people’ to fill the roles of general manager and head coach, wasn’t just about getting talented men to do those jobs, but to allow them to do the jobs as well.

That means when this franchise finds a new general manager and the head coach who they believe in and share the same philosophy with, don’t tell them how to do their job. Just let them do it.

The Ford family has long been known for meddling with their decision-maker’s decisions instead of just letting those football minds do their job. William Clay Ford Sr., especially, was known for making strong recommendations.

While Spielman’s role isn’t completely defined, as an advisor he will be in a position to reinforce the idea to allow the Lions’ next general manager and head coach to do their jobs as they see fit because that is ultimately what Sheila will hire them to do.