Administration

William Clay Ford, Jr. has made a positive and lasting impact on the Detroit Lions since assuming his current post of vice chairman in February 1995. He remains focused not only on creating a winner in the present, but also on ensuring success well into the 21st century, both on and off the field.

Ford shares his father’s commitment and devotion to the Lions and also has a burning passion to win. Like his father, he wants nothing less than to see the Lions regarded as one of the premier franchises in the National Football League and to produce a championship for Lions fans everywhere.

William Clay Ford, Jr. has made a positive and lasting impact on the Detroit Lions since assuming his current post of vice chairman in February 1995. He remains focused not only on creating a winner in the present, but also on ensuring success well into the 21st century, both on and off the field.

Ford shares his father’s commitment and devotion to the Lions and also has a burning passion to win. Like his father, he wants nothing less than to see the Lions regarded as one of the premier franchises in the National Football League and to produce a championship for Lions fans everywhere.

“We have re-evaluated every aspect of our organization and we will continue to do everything necessary to have success on and off the field,” said Ford. “It is vital that we provide our fan base with a winner and reward their passion for the Lions.

“Our focus is to work everyday to improve in every area, and this is consistent in both our football and business operations. We understand that the most important thing we can do for our fans is to win and to do so consistently.

“Over the past several months Tom (Lewand), Martin (Mayhew) and Coach (Jim) Schwartz have improved this team in many areas. I firmly believe that there is an exciting future for this team, and I look forward to seeing the development of this team this year and for several years to come.”

To see Ford’s influence off the field, one has to look no further than Ford Field in downtown Detroit and the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park. Both are considered among the best respectively in all of sports, and were shaped by Ford’s resolve for the Lions to be a leader in the NFL.

Ford’s dedication and commitment to the fans was never more evident than when he spearheaded the team’s stadium negotiations that led to the 1996 decision and announcement to build Ford Field. Due largely to his determination and perseverance, the Lions struck a deal with the city of Detroit and Wayne County that established the foundation for the Lions to return to downtown Detroit in 2002.

Ford’s vision of a downtown stadium had perhaps its finest moment to date when it played host to Super Bowl XL in February 2006. It received extraordinary reviews by the international community.

In addition to developing new homes for the team to practice and play, Ford played a vital role in Detroit’s bid for Super Bowl XL. Through his leadership, the Ford Family, the Lions and Ford Motor Company were integral in Detroit’s impressive hosting of Super Bowl XL that exceeded expectations. Overall, there was a $260 million economic impact generated by Super Bowl XL, including $100 million in downtown improvements, $10 million in emerging businesses—the most in Super Bowl history—and $6 million in the NFL/Boys & Girls Club Youth Education Town—the largest in the country.

Though satisfied with progress made so far by the development of Ford Field, Ford continues to push for the stadium to become an even greater benefit to the community and its growth.

“Since we opened the doors in 2002, Ford Field has delivered on our vision to provide the City of Detroit with a venue that positively impacts the city’s economy. Our initiatives have surpassed that, and the result of the numerous, and many times record-breaking, events we have at Ford Field stimulate the entire Metro Detroit region and even the state. Whether a fan goes to a Lions game, enjoys a concert or attends other events, we want their experience to be positive and leave with a positive and lasting impression on who we are as an organization, a city and state.”

Since the decision was made to move to downtown Detroit, Ford also wanted to provide a world-class practice facility to complement the team’s stadium project. The $36 million Allen Park facility, which opened in April 2002, has universally been identified as one of the best facilities in the NFL. Its state-of-the-art football facilities, including an indoor practice facility with a regulation-size field, provide the ideal training center for NFL players and coaches.

In Ford’s 14 years in his current role, he has helped the Lions take major steps forward on several fronts. Ford has strongly supported an active community outreach program which has been recognized as the best of any team in all of professional sports.

Through Ford’s support, Detroit Lions Charities, which has awarded more than $5.2 million in total donations during its 19-year history, continue to serve Detroit and the State of Michigan. In the past five years, Detroit Lions Charities distributed an annual average of nearly $500,000 to various organizations. Featured among the Lions’ philanthropic efforts is the collaborative effort with Detroit Public Schools and Communities in Schools of Detroit to open the Detroit Lions Academy. The school, which opens its doors for its eighth year this fall, offers an alternative school environment for approximately 140 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Ford has been a significant supporter of the team’s contribution in numerous other community programs, such as the sponsorship of the Think Detroit PAL youth football program—one of the nation’s largest tackle football leagues.

Involvement in the community does not stop at the team’s community outreach and charitable contributions, as Ford also emphasizes the importance in growing the game of football and the development of youth. The Detroit Lions Youth Football program is one the most extensive youth sports programs operated by a professional sports team. From numerous youth camps held statewide to coaching clinics, the goal of the program is to impact children’s lives on and off the field through the game. Ford believes it is valuable to grow youth’s interest in football and assist in the development of youth coaches.

Under Ford’s direction, the team has launched one of the most aggressive business operations in all of sports. Many elements to this are derived primarily from events held at Ford Field and the benefits generated from both Lions games and other ancillary events. Ford ensures that every aspect of the team’s business operations ultimately focus on the impact they have on the Lions’ ability to win.

Two major changes occurred this spring that illustrate this aggressive approach. In April, the team introduced comprehensive changes to the team’s brand that includes a new, fierce-looking logo and other unique branding elements. A month earlier the organization re-vamped the Lions merchandise operations with a strong emphasis on improving customer service, including re-launching the team’s retail store at Ford Field, now known as “Lions Pro Shop,” and the team’s online retail store, Detroitlionsstore.com.

Over the years, Ford’s leadership has generated several key business initiatives, including the Lions being one of the first pro sports teams to launch its own website launched. The club also entered into a partnership with Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio), a relationship it extended in 2005, for the Lions’ radio broadcast rights and started production on weekly radio and television shows that air throughout the season.

Beyond football events that range from the NFL all the way down to youth football, Ford Field hosts some of the largest sporting and entertainments events in the nation.

In 2009, Ford Field hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, a first for downtown Detroit, which shattered tournament attendance records, provided the Metro Detroit area with a $30-50 million economic boost over the weekend and provided a number of community outreach initiatives that will have a lasting impact on the city of Detroit. An example of those outreaches was the newly-created legacy program that established early learning and literacy centers in the Detroit community. Ford Field was the host site for the Midwest Regional Finals in March 2008, and the event also broke NCAA Regional and preliminary round attendance records with over 57,000 people attending each session.

Next April, the focus will again be back on Ford Field as Detroit hosts the 2010 NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four. Like the basketball events, the mid-field configuration is expected to set all-time attendance records for that event. Ford Field will become the first venue in NCAA history to host the Final Four and the Frozen Four in back-to-back years.

In other past roles within the NFL structure, Ford has served on the NFL’s Finance Committee and NFL Properties Committee.

Though football remains a passion for Ford, his father and his family, his top priority remains serving as Ford Motor Company’s Executive Chairman. His current role is a professional and personal commitment, as he leads the company founded by his great-grandfather, American automotive pioneer Henry Ford. A member of the Board of Directors since 1988, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Board January 1, 1999. He also served as Chief Executive Officer from October 2001 through September 2006. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of the Board’s Finance Committee and as a member of the Environmental and Public Policy Committee.

Among his many outside leadership roles, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Henry Ford, Chairman of the Detroit Economic Club, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Detroit Renaissance.

Born in Detroit in 1957, he is an avid fly fisherman and car enthusiast, enjoys playing hockey and tennis, and is a black belt in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Princeton University and a master of science degree in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).