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Detroit Lions Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders explains his thoughts on Kerryon Johnson and the Lions offense at the Super Bowl, Feb. 1, 2019 in Atlanta.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

There’s some good news on football’s biggest day.

Former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen, who had a much-needed heart transplant in the early hours of Christmas Eve, is apparently doing well health-wise.

The East Bay Times caught up with Millen, a linebacker on four Super Bowl championship teams, and reports that Millen is “feeling pretty good.”

“Working out, doing what I’m supposed to do. Back in the woodshop. Back in the weight room, on the elliptical. I started walking the hill behind my house. I’m going to get that thing conquered here sooner or later,” Millen said to the Times.

Millen was suffering from amyloidosis, an incurable disease that has been treated with chemotherapy, in 2017 after years of experiencing symptoms. The ailment attacked the lining of his heart. Millen, a game analyst for the Big Ten Network, stepped away from those duties in October to focus on his health.

More: Matt Millen: ‘More of a purpose’ after transplant

But a couple of days before Christmas, a donor was found and the surgery was scheduled.

“They keep it very simple,” Millen told the East Bay Times of the donor. “I know it was a `he.’ He’s 26 and out of state. I know he was 6-foot-2, 180 pounds maybe. That was an important piece because they had to get the same size donor.”

Millen said after the surgery, which went about 4 hours, he was up and walking around the next day.

After his All-American college career at Penn State and 12 seasons in the NFL, Millen retired and became the No. 2 NFL game analyst, first with CBS and then Fox in the 1990s.

He was hired by the Lions in 2001 to help turn around the struggling franchise, but instead he oversaw a 31-84 record over his eight seasons. Fans began calling for him to be fired, which is what happened in 2008, as the team headed for the first 0-16 finish in NFL history.

Since then, he returned to TV. But as he told NBC Sports’ Peter King, Millen feels as if he’s around to do more than breaking down plays on Saturdays.

“I have not been spared for nothing,” Millen said. “I feel like I have more of a purpose now — I just have to find out what it is. I’ve got to figure out what my Holy Grail is for the rest of my life. I can’t waste this opportunity.”

Lions CEO Matt Millen answer questions after firing coach Steve Mariucci and appointing Dick Jauron as interim head coach to finish out the season on Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, in Allen Park.

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(From left) Lions coach Steve Mariucci, new draft picks Kevin Jones and Roy Williams and general manager Matt Millen pose in Allen Park on Sunday, April 25, 2004.
Lions coach Rod Marinelli, left, and team president and CEO Matt Millen talk as the team goes through the morning session on the first day of training camp in Allen Park on Thursday, July 24, 2008.

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Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, from left, executive vice president and COO Tom Lewand and vice chairman William Clay Ford Jr. listen as new head coach Steve Mariucci addresses a news conference at Ford Field on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003.
Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, left, and head coach Steve Mariucci pose during a news conference at Ford Field on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003.
Lions president Matt Millen, left, poses for a photo with second round draft pick Shaun Cody, first round draft pick Mike Williams, and head coach Steve Mariucci, right, during a news conference at their training facility on April 24, 2005 in Allen Park.
Lions CEO Matt Millen looks down during a press conference to announce that he had just fired Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg on Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, in Allen Park

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LIons owner William Clay Ford talks with Lions general manager Matt MIllen on the sidelines before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 4, 2005, at Ford Field.

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Lions president and CEO Matt Millen watches the defense practice on Wednesday in Allen Park on Wednesday, August 14, 2002.

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Lions owner and chairman William Clay Ford, left, talks with team president and chief executive officer Matt Millen before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007.
Lions owner William Clay Ford introduces Matt Millen as the team's new CEO and president in 2001.

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Former Lions defensive lineman Shaun Rogers talks breifly with Lions owner Wiliam Clay Ford and CEO Matt Millen as the Cleveland Browns leave the field after pre-game warmups before their exhibition game against the Lions on Saturday, August 23, 2008, at Ford Field.

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New Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, right, poses with Bill Ford Jr. during the news conference announcing Millen's hiring at the Centerpoint Marriott in Pontiac on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001.

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Lions GM Matt Millen, center, and senior vice president of finance Tom Lewand, left, talk with Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, right, on the field before the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006.
Matt Millen
Lions GM Matt Millen, left, gives a hug to his newly named head coach Marty Mornhinweg on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2001, in Pontiac.

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Lions QB Joey Harrington , left, talks with team president and CEO Matt Millen on the sidelines before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Ford Field on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005.

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Lions president and CEO Matt Millen holds a quick news conference early at the Allen Park practice facility on Tuesday, July 23, 2002.

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Lions president Matt Millen takes the newest of his four Harley Davidson motorcycles out for a short ride at his Pennsylvania home on July 11, 2001.

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New Lions president and CEO Matt Millen answers questions during the news conference officially announcing his hiring at the Centerpoint Marrioyt in Pontiac on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001.

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Lions president & CEO Matt Millen and team owner William Clay Ford watch during the afternoon session of training camp on July 24, 2008, at the Allen Park practice facility.

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Lions coach Rod Marinelli and general manager Matt Millen talk during special teams practice on July 29, 2008, in Allen Park.

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Lions president and chief executive officer Matt Millen, left, and coach Marty Mornhinweg, right, pose with the team's first-round draft pick, Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington, Sunday, April 21, 2002, at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park.
Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, right, plays his old linebacker position against John Waerig during practice passing routes on the first official practice day at Saginaw Valley State on Tuesday, July 24, 2001.

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Lions coach Rod Marinelli and GM Matt Millen talk before their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 21, 2008, in San Francisco.

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Lions president Matt Millen talks on the sidelines before the game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, at Ford Field.

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Michigan State coach Tom Izzo shares a laugh with Lions general manager Matt Millen before the Lions' game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at Ford Field.

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Lions CEO Matt Millen answers questions on Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, shortly after announcing his firing of coach Steve Mariucci and appointing Dick Jauron as interim head coach in Allen Park.

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Lions president Matt Millen, right, talks with former running back Barry Sanders on the field before the game against the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003.

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Lions first-round draft pick Jeff Backus, a former offensive tackle from Michigan, poses with coach Marty Mornhinweg, left, and president and CEO, Matt Millen, after a news conference at the Silverdome on Sunday, April 22, 2001. POS102
Lions president and CEO Matt Millen announces the team retained head coach Marty Mornhinweg during a news conference in Allen Park on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002.
Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, right, poses with Rod Marinelli, left, after Marinelli was introduced as the new head coach at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2005.

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Lions president and CEO Matt Millen, left, walks on the field with Lions new head coach Steve Mariucci and William Clay Ford Jr., owner and vice chairman at Ford Field on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003.

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NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth shakes hands with Lions CEO Matt Millen on Aug. 17, 2006, at Lions practice in Allen Park.
Lions president Matt Millen backs the newest of his four Harley Davidson motorcycles out of his garage at his Pennsylvania home on July 11, 2001.

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Lions CEO Matt Millen reacts to a question from the media about the firing of head coach Marty Mornhinweg on Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park.

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Lions president Matt Millen poses with his wife, Pat, right, and kids (clockwise from top left, Marcus, Matthew, Marianne and Michalyn) on the steps of their Pennsylvania home on July 11, 2001.

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