Tweet
Millen removed as Lions team president, CEO
The Detroit Lions fired president Matt Millen on Wednesday, more than seven years after the former linebacker and TV analyst took over one of the NFL's most mediocre franchises and made it the worst.
The team confirmed the firing Wednesday afternoon.
Millen's teams won a league-low 31 games since he took over in 2001, but Detroit owner William Clay Ford had refused to get rid of him until now.
On Monday, Bill Ford Jr., son of the team owner, said he would fire Millen, but didn't have the authority.
Detroit was routed in each of its first three games this season, falling behind 21-0 twice and 21-3 once en route to lopsided losses. The Lions are off this week.
The 0-3 start dropped Millen to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven-plus seasons.
FoxSports.com was the first to report Millen's departure.
"We're fine," Millen's wife, Patty, told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. "In the world's view, this may look like failure. It's been a hard road, football-wise, but we've gotten a lot of eternal blessings. We'll move forward. I told him, 'You're out of football prison now' and we have a greater purpose."
The tipping point might have been public comments made by the owner's son. Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. said Millen should leave the team, and the Ford Motor Co. executive chairman said if he had the authority, he would make moves.
"I think the fans deserve better," Bill Ford told reporters on Monday. "And if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes."
His father finally agreed that Millen had to go.
Drivers of vehicles whizzing past the Allen Park facility beeped their horns and gleefully yelled out about the end of the Millen era. A gaggle of reporters, videographers and still photographers roamed around the grounds, waiting for official word of Millen's departure.
In rare interviews, the elder Ford has stood by his decision to hire Millen and to stick with him despite "Fire Mil-len!" chants from fans as Millen sank the team to one of the worst eras in NFL history.
William Clay Ford also has been the target of criticism. Since he took over the franchise, starting with the 1964 season, the Lions have won only one playoff game.
The owner said in 2003 he hadn't considered firing Millen.
"I want him. I don't need any more reason than that," he said.
Source: ESPN.com
The team confirmed the firing Wednesday afternoon.
Millen's teams won a league-low 31 games since he took over in 2001, but Detroit owner William Clay Ford had refused to get rid of him until now.
On Monday, Bill Ford Jr., son of the team owner, said he would fire Millen, but didn't have the authority.
Detroit was routed in each of its first three games this season, falling behind 21-0 twice and 21-3 once en route to lopsided losses. The Lions are off this week.
The 0-3 start dropped Millen to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven-plus seasons.
FoxSports.com was the first to report Millen's departure.
"We're fine," Millen's wife, Patty, told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. "In the world's view, this may look like failure. It's been a hard road, football-wise, but we've gotten a lot of eternal blessings. We'll move forward. I told him, 'You're out of football prison now' and we have a greater purpose."
The tipping point might have been public comments made by the owner's son. Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. said Millen should leave the team, and the Ford Motor Co. executive chairman said if he had the authority, he would make moves.
"I think the fans deserve better," Bill Ford told reporters on Monday. "And if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes."
His father finally agreed that Millen had to go.
Drivers of vehicles whizzing past the Allen Park facility beeped their horns and gleefully yelled out about the end of the Millen era. A gaggle of reporters, videographers and still photographers roamed around the grounds, waiting for official word of Millen's departure.
In rare interviews, the elder Ford has stood by his decision to hire Millen and to stick with him despite "Fire Mil-len!" chants from fans as Millen sank the team to one of the worst eras in NFL history.
William Clay Ford also has been the target of criticism. Since he took over the franchise, starting with the 1964 season, the Lions have won only one playoff game.
The owner said in 2003 he hadn't considered firing Millen.
"I want him. I don't need any more reason than that," he said.
Source: ESPN.com