After the Detroit Lions rolled the Arizona Cardinals 45-21 on Sunday, head coach Dan Campbell handed one of the game balls to longtime Lions radio voice Dan Miller, who announced before the game that his wife had passed away.
As first reported by ClutchPoints, citing Awful Announcing, Campbell got emotional talking about Miller, who has called Lions games since 2005. “It’s been a tough road for Dan. It’s for him. Salt of the earth, man,” Campbell said through tears. He added: “But now I know somebody’s at peace. We love you, Dan. Appreciate you.”
The Win Itself
On the field, Detroit handled business in the desert. Jared Goff threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns and ran one in himself. The Lions are now 3-2 and head into their Week 6 bye on a high note.
The IAHHM Take
This is why people ride for Dan Campbell. The kneecap-biting persona gets the memes, but moments like this are the real reason his locker room plays so hard for him. He sees the whole building as family, including the voice fans hear on the radio every Sunday.
Radio play-by-play guys don’t get many headlines, but for a lot of fans, especially the ones listening in the car, at work or at the cookout, they ARE the game. Miller has been the soundtrack of Lions football for two decades, through the lean years and the rise. Giving him a game ball on the hardest day of his life says a lot about the culture Campbell has built in Detroit.
Football can feel like nothing but numbers and hot takes. Days like this remind you there are people behind it. Our thoughts are with Dan Miller and his family.
It’s been a heavy stretch for the football world. Read our tribute: Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame Tight End and Coach of the ’85 Bears, Dies at 86.
Source: ClutchPoints
