Jared Goff, fresh off a 45-21 win for the Detroit Lions over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, got absolutely choked up on Fox Sports talking about something way bigger than football. He was asked about the absence of Lions radio play-by-play announcer Dan Miller, and the dude visibly fought back tears just trying to get the words out.
More Than Just a Voice, He’s Family
You could just see the raw emotion. Goff started by saying, “Yeah, we’re thinking about Dan.” And then, he had to take a breath, fighting those tears, adding, “Yeah, sorry. We’re thinking about you, Dan. Love you, man.” This wasn’t just some athlete giving a canned answer; this was real. When asked what Miller means to the squad, Goff didn’t hesitate. He called Miller “an important piece of the culture here.”
This isn’t just about a guy in the booth calling games. Miller’s been the voice of Lions football since 2005, and he’s also the sports director for WJBK-TV (Fox-2). Goff summed it up perfectly: “His voice is Lions football and he means a lot to us, he’s apart of our family and I talk to him weekly and I know he’s in our hearts right now and all of our prayers.” That’s deep. That’s true connection, the kind of bond you build when you’re grinding through seasons together.
The Hardest News That Hits the Heart of the Team
The reason for Miller’s absence was heartbreaking: the death of his wife, Cindy Miller, a couple of days prior. Jason Benetti, the Tigers play-by-play announcer, stepped in to fill for Miller on the radio broadcast. Benetti opened the pregame show by acknowledging the crushing news. He said, “We are without a very important member of this crew for the worst possible reason.” He went on to describe Dan Miller as “one of the most sincere human beings you can possibly dream of, a fantastic voice of the Lions for more than two decades, and its very hard to have him be at home under these circumstances.” Dan and Cindy Miller have four children. It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it? This isn’t just a team; it’s a community, and when one part hurts, everyone feels it.
This whole situation is a gut punch, showing everyone that there’s so much more to sports than wins and losses. For Goff to open up like that after a big victory says everything about the respect and love he and the team have for Dan Miller and his family. It’s a tough reminder of the real stuff that happens away from the field, and you can bet the Lions are playing for more than just the scoreboard right now. Speaking of tough breaks, our Seahawks took a 32-29 loss to the 49ers this weekend. Just another reminder that sometimes, it’s just not your day.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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