Chris Spielman brings same fire he had as player to new role with the Lions

Chris Spielman is still relatively fresh in his role in the Detroit Lions organization, but he’s bringing the same fire he had as a linebacker to that role.

In December of 2020, after the firings of Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn, the Detroit Lions brought Chris Spielman back into the fold as a special assistant. It’s safe to say everything is under his umbrella to some degree, including the trick played on him where he announced the news of his own induction into the Lions’ Ring of Honor in 2021.

Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (subscription required) recently sat down with Spielman to finally attempt to reveal what the Lions’ all-time leading tackler exactly does in his new-ish role.

Chris Spielman bringing same fire he had as a player to role in Lions organization

Spielman seems to have a great role in scouting and personnel, with the perspective of a former player. But he made it clear he wants to be in his unique lane, without people feeling threatened by his presence.

Here’s what he told Rogers about his role.

"I’ve been given the freedom to define the role, but in order to do that, the one thing I had to get, because it’s a paranoid business by nature, I had to make sure I had everybody’s trust, that I have zero agenda other than winning,” he said. “Zero. I tell everyone, ‘I’ve already done my thing, man. I have zero agenda. I don’t want another role. I’m not looking for another role.’ My goal is to help everybody succeed to their highest level. When that happens, I feel like I win.”"

Spielman also talked about when owner Sheila Ford Hamp was booed at Ford Field in 2021.

"All that did was motivate me more because I took that personally,” said Spielman. “When they booed her, I took it personally, because I’m here to help her.”"

Zero agenda other than winning. Taking something he feels like he can have some say in changing moving forward, the owner being booed by the home fans in this case, personally. That sounds like Spielman the player, and he’s simply carrying that into his current role in the Lions’ organization–being himself, which is all he can do and what was surely wanted when he was hired.

It doesn’t feel coincidental that the Lions’ resurgence has followed Spielman’s arrival, in what’s clearly a broad role with his fingerprints on a lot areas.

An air of genuineness and credibility had eluded the Lions for years, and for the most of the last few decades. But it’s certainly in place now, and it really started with Spielman coming back to help pick up the wreckage of the “Quinntricia” regime.