Ford CEO: Home split over Lions, Packers
Jim Farley describes daughters' fierce passion for football
For Ford CEO Jim Farley, the Detroit Lions' victory streak is complicated.
"The Lions are having a moment, and that’s tough for the Packer fan," he told reporters during a Christmas party at the historic Michigan Central Station in Corktown, Detroit.
Later, Farley explained to me that his household is split. He’s a loyal Green Bay Packers fan, along with his daughter Lilly. Meanwhile, his daughter Grace is a diehard Lions fan.
And that means the football schedule can create disharmony at home.
“Honestly — people don’t talk to each other at night in our family,” he said, laughing.
Detroit beat Green Bay 34-31 on Dec. 5 at the last second with a field goal by former brick salesman Jake Bates. Detroit now has a 12-1 record, while the Packers sit at 10-3.
Bill Ford, chair of Ford Motor Company and Farley’s boss, is a huge Lions fan. His family owns the team. His sister Sheila Ford Hamp is chair and listed as principal owner of the Lions, led by Coach Dan Campbell.
Ties to Wisconsin, Chris Farley and ‘Tommy Boy’
Farley has strong family ties to Wisconsin.
It’s where his cousin Chris Farley grew up. They had a big Irish Catholic family led by patriarch Tommy Farley, for whom the popular movie “Tommy Boy” was named.
“Chris’ humor, in many ways, came from his dad, my father’s brother,” Jim Farley said in 2019. “They loved old movies. I remember hearing so many times Chris talk to his dad about a character he was thinking about, like from old movies. My dad was a senior banker with Citibank. He was very proud of his profession. He lived in South America for 20 years and spoke fluent Spanish. My dad joined the Navy to see the world after he left Wisconsin for Georgetown, and never really came back.”
“But my uncle graduated from Georgetown, as well, and went back to Wisconsin and started an asphalt company — the premise of 'Tommy Boy' was about Chris’ life with his dad, traveling Wisconsin and selling to local farmers who happened to be county road commissioners on the side.”
Chris Farley, the accomplished comedian, actor and star of "Saturday Night Live," died Dec. 18, 1997, at the age of 33. He would have turned 60 this year.
Jim Farley has talked about missing his cousin, whom he adored, and he posts on X different messages on special days — including Feb. 15 this year, his birthday.
“As wild and funny as Chris could be, he was also such a kind, gentle soul. Wish my kids could have known him. He would have been the best uncle,” Jim Farley wrote. “We miss him!”
(In memory of his cousin, Jim Farley made a financial contribution to the Pope Francis Center and asked that a classroom at the new Bridge Housing Campus in Detroit be named in honor of the comedian who struggled with substance abuse.)
Can’t resist attending games
Despite a busy schedule, Farley said he has attended two Packers games this season.
He also gave a shoutout to John Bergstrom, a Packers board member emeritus and founder Bergstrom Automotive based in Neenah, Wisconsin. He, too, has conflicting loyalties as someone with dozens of dealerships selling 33 car brands, including Ford and Lincoln.
In January this year, Farley had his picture snapped at Ford Field with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
“Electric night at Ford Field,” Farley posted on X that day, the site formerly known as Twitter. “Nice getting to meet @RHCPchad. Chad owns a ‘65 Mustang and his dad worked at @Ford.”
While Farley’s first love is the Packers, he confessed: “We love both teams!”
Battles over Lions, Packers is a Michigan thing
The Farley family isn’t the only house split during football season.
Dale Hemmila, 74, a Marquette-area native who now lives in metro Detroit and drives a Ford Mustang, commutes eight hours to Green Bay for football games.
After 30 years on a waiting list, he said, Hemmila finally has Packers season tickets.
“My niece and her husband, who live in Rochester Hills, Michigan, have two boys. One is growing up a Lions fan, the other is growing up as a Packers fan. It's fun to watch,” Hemmila said.
Things can get heated between Lions and Packers fans.
Earlier this month, Lions fan Fahad Yousif, 30, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, had his season tickets revoked for bad behavior after clashing with Matt LaFleur, head coach of the Green Bay Packers, before the teams battled on the field. .
"I have no love for the Lions at all," Hemmila said. "When you grow up in the U.P. as a Packer fan, the Lions are your main rival. It's really hard, when they're your rival, to watch how well they're doing.”
Watch here: Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell delivers one of his classic post-game talks to a team that’s breaking records and setting records every week.
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I had to subscribe when I read this fun article with such detail. So like you. I just like the Lions.Their coach is so straight forward, black and white.
Matt Foley forever in our hearts... Go Lions!