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Cindy Millerlate wife of Detroit Lions radio play-by-play announcer Dan Millerin the hearts and minds of the team just hours after her death.
Cindy died on Saturday, October 10, after a battle against leptomeningeal cancer, which occurs when cancer cells spread from a primary tumor to the thin layers of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. She was 63.
Dan, 64, missed the radio call of the Lions’ 45-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 11, following the death of his wife. After the victory, the Lions quarterback Jared Goff I got emotional talking about the Miller family.
“We’re thinking about Dan,” Goff, 31, told Fox Sports’ Allison Williams while he fought back tears. “Yeah, I’m sorry. We’re thinking of you, Dan. I love you, man.”
Goff said, “He’s just an important part of the culture here. He really is. The voice is Lions football, and he means a lot to us. He’s part of our family. I talk to him every week. I know he’s in our hearts right now and in all our prayers.”
Dan has been the radio play-by-play announcer for the Lions since 2005.
After Sunday’s win, the Lions head coach was very emotional Dan Campbell he gave the game ball to the radio broadcaster.
“This ball goes to Dan Miller and his family,” Campbell, 50, said in his post-match press conference. “That was hard to hear what they went through. I know it was a hard road for Dan. He’s for it. Salt of the earth, man. Dan is the salt of the earth. I know this was hard, but now I know Cindy is at peace. We love you, Dan. Goodbye.”
daughter of Dan and Cindy, Rikkiresponse to Campbell’s message, saying the head coach and his wife, Holly, “have been amazing throughout my mom’s entire cancer journey, from day one.”
Rikki said her mother died at 2:40 a.m. Saturday “surrounded by the deep and wide love of her husband, children and animals.”
“My mother, my best friend, my soulmate, everything,” Rikki said via Facebook. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to live even once without you by my side. We traveled the world, we saw the concerts, we said yes to everything, but we had so much left to do. We didn’t see Paris, we didn’t get to meet One Direction. My heart is broken. I love you more than anyone will ever love, mommy.”
