Lions Fans React to Team Honoring Martha Ford

Detroit's ownership took in Day 7 of training camp.

The fans of the Detroit Lions have a unique relationship with ownership. 

For many years, fans have been highly critical of the Ford family, due to the lack of success the organization has achieved in the past several decades. 

Ultimately, tensions boiled over when fans at Ford Field booed new principal owner Sheila Hamp in September of 2021. 

What was meant to be a celebration of star wideout Calvin Johnson turned into fans letting ownership know how they felt about how Johnson was treated when he retired, as well as a fair amount of venting. 

The organization has only secured one playoff victory since 1991, and has not ever hosted a playoff game at Ford Field. 

Fast forward to 2023, and the Lions are one of the hottest training camp destinations for supporters and for the national media to visit. 

Detroit Lions Training Camp Notebook: Dan Campbell Reviews Week 1

On Day 7, the team, led by head coach Dan Campbell, decided the final offensive play would honor Martha Ford. 

After quarterback Jared Goff called out, "Martha, Martha, Martha," running back David Montgomery took the handoff and eventually ended up handing the football, which is now hers to keep, to the 97-year-old Ford. 

Despite the increase in positive sentiment, there were still quite a handful of supporters who took to social media to question why the current regiment would honor a figure that represented some of the struggles of the past. 

Here is a sample of the reaction online to the final play of practice being called to honor one of the owners of the team. 

People criticizing a 97 year old woman… just the ultimate example of classlessness. Try to find joy in life. Spreading negativity is no way to live.

— Scotty D (@ItsScottyD) July 30, 2023

Awesome. Classy way to honor her. Love this coach, the players and all the staff. Spielman & Holmes are also exactly what this franchise needed. You can see the culture change all over this organization.

— Scotty D (@ItsScottyD) July 30, 2023

Cringe af

— Limbs (@Limbsical) July 30, 2023

Nice to see Martha out there today and the players embracing her. Great job Coach!

— Jeff Johnston (@Jeff700) July 30, 2023