Chris Spielman is headed home for the holidays just as the Lions announced that their former Pro Bowl linebacker would leave the Fox broadcast booth to join the organization as a special assistant to President Rod Wood and team owner Sheila Ford Hamp.
The teams all-time leading tackler would also be sitting in on interviews for the Lions vacant head coach and general manager positions.
- Fired: The Lions fired head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn
Those candidates will be identified and vetted by a new three-member advisory group headlined by another former Lions great, Barry Sanders
Sanders would be joined on that group by former Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis, and former Arizona Cardinals GM Rod Graves.
Spielman played his last game for the Lions in 1995, but said he still identifies with the teams 'One Pride' motto.
"The one pride thing is embracing Detroit, the city of Detroit, the fans of Detroit. It's something I still identify with," said Spielman. "I felt a part of it and it's really good to be home in that regard. I have a vision that matches what Rod and Sheila envision, and that's the only way it can work is because we are in sync with the direction of the culture of the building."
Spielman was a second-round pick of the Lions back in 1988. The four-time Pro Bowler played for Detroit for eight years. He was part the 1991 team with the only playoff win of the Super Bowl era, and the team's last divisional champion in 1993. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1991. He played 10 seasons total in the NFL, starting 148 games.