Dan Miller, the Detroit Lions’ radio voice, excitedly extolled the Lions’ grit and resilience. The Lions had just beaten the Green Bay Packers with a last-second field goal.
The victory qualified the Lions for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
This year, the Lions are on their way to the Super Bowl with a 12-1 record that could give them a home-field advantage in the playoffs. Last year, they made it to the NFC Championship team but lost on the road to the San Francisco 49ers.
More Than Grit
Yes, the Lions have grit, but what makes this team so special is its tenacity. They have lost a number of starters on defense, including their two best defensive players, Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone—both out with season-ending injuries.
Yet they keep on winning.
“I think a lot of it is just that what we’ve had to overcome,” Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell said. “The hand we were dealt and I just love the fact our guys don’t make excuses, they just find a way… Everybody on this team believed we were going to win that game, and we were going to find a way, and we just, we did it again. We did it again. Guys did it.”
What We Can Learn
So, let’s explore how the Lions do it.
Build a strong culture. Sheila Ford Hamp took over the team from her mother, Martha Ford, widow of the longtime owner, William Clay Ford. Sheila’s competitive spirit, honed as a varsity tennis player at Yale, gives her a perspective on winning. She hired Brad Holmes as General Manager and Campbell as head coach, who hired two exceptional coordinators, Ben Johnson for offense and Aaron Glenn for defense. The two of them went 3-13 in their first season, and Sheila herself was booed during an event at Ford Field honoring a former player. She took it in stride. Sheila believed in the plan Holmes and Campbell had developed.
Be professional. Coming to the Lions used to be a form of exile. No one knew that better than quarterback Jared Goff, who was traded from the Los Angeles Rams for star quarterback Matthew Stafford. Goff had led the Rams to the Super Bowl. Yet outwardly, he showed nothing but professionalism. He accepted his new role and worked hard. His example certainly rubbed off on his teammates.
Flex with the situation. Campbell, a former NFL player himself, preaches the “next man up” philosophy. When a player goes down, another is ready to take his place, a necessity in a game as violent as professional football.
Be resourceful. This is where the Lions excel. Brad Holmes finds replacement players who can step into the lineup and play. During the Green Bay game, they had players on defense who had only days before signed contracts with the Lions. They were veteran players, yes, but new to the Lions system. They did not jell on every play but did well enough to hold the Packers at bay.
Tenacity Enhances Culture
This approach results in a tenacious team that finds ways to win. For those of us who make our livings off the field, learning how to use tenacity builds results.
Managers will lose key performers, often because they are promoted. The manager’s role is to put new people into those positions and groom them for success. Enforce a culture that rewards individuals for what they can do, not what others have done before them. Stress flexibility and adaptability to new situations. Tenacity in the face of adversity is a strength.
No one knows how to demonstrate tenacity better than Campbell, who has a reputation for making risky decisions that pay off. “I think [Campbell’s] done a really good job of deciding when to go and when not to go [for it],” quarterback Jared Goff said. “That’s the game he plays… and we trust him.”
Only time will tell how far the Lions go this year, but from the perspective of a fan, they sure are fun to watch and teach us a few lessons about winning along the way.