The Detroit Lions were missing an important member of their team in Sunday's 45-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Just how important was evident after the win when coach Dan Campbell told reporters he was giving the game ball to the team's longtime radio play-by-play announcer Dan Milller − whose wife, Cindy, died on Saturday, Oct. 10, after a battle with cancer.
"It was hard to hear, what they went through, it's been a tough road for Dan, this is for him," Campbell said, fighting back tears. "Salt of the earth, man. Dan is salt of the earth and I know this has been hard but now I know Cindy is at peace and we love you, Dan."
Lions quarterback Jared Goff also recognized Miller in his postgame comments on the Fox Sports broadcast.
"His voice
is Lions football and he means a lot to us, he's a part of our family and I talk to him weekly and I know he's in our hearts right now and all of our prayers," Goff said.
Miller has been the Lions' play-by-play announcer since 2005 and is also the sports director at WJBK-TV, Detroit's Fox affiliate.
Detroit Tigers radio announcer and NBC Sports lead baseball voice Jason Benetti filled in for Miller during Sunday's game.
"We are without a very important member of this crew for the worst possible reason," Benetti said on the pregame show. "Our thoughts are with Dan right now, all weekend and for the future with the loss of his wife Cindy, a couple of days ago. ...
"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."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lions' Dan Campbell, Jared Goff get emotional after death of radio announcer's wife
