© Kimberly P. Mitchell, USA TODAY NETWORK
Detroit Lions Uniform Wishlist
The Lions will be unveiling new-look uniforms Thursday.
The city of Detroit and its football fans are abuzz, and not just because the NFL Draft is set to take center stage downtown next Thursday - Saturday (April 25-27).
Instead, it's also due to the fact that the Lions will be donning new uniforms this upcoming season (and for the first time since 2017).
The updated jerseys will be unveiled Thursday at 7 p.m., as part of an event for season-ticket holders at Ford Field.
There has been speculation aplenty about what the new unis will look like since it was announced by team president Rod Wood, in late March, that the organization would be debuting a fresh look in 2024.
At the very least, Detroit's jerseys will continue to feature the team's traditional – and well-liked – “Honolulu Blue” and silver color combo.
"I think our goal was to honor the past – we have great colors, we have great history – but also put a modern twist on it," Wood told attendees of the Detroit Economic Club's NFL Draft panel last Thursday. "So, I think when you see them, you'll see both of those things. And, you'll see, hopefully, uniforms that propel us for at least the next five years to be one of the great uniforms in the NFL. And, we're never going to change them dramatically, but there's always an opportunity to modernize them and I think people will see that.”
Now, when it comes to what I'd like to see with the new unis, I feel that I'm aligned with the sentiments expressed above by Wood.
For starters, I'll admit that I've never been hugely focused on (or worried about) a pro team's uniform design – which I understand contrasts with the typical sports fan.
For instance, I love the Detroit Tigers’ “Old English D” home uniform, which has basically stayed the same since the first days of the organization. I appreciate the simplicity and tradition with those unis.
Sticking with that theme, I'm like Wood, in the sense that I'd like to see the Lions stay true to their “Honolulu Blue” and silver color scheme with their new jerseys. I think that fans and pundits both dig that look, so I hope the Lions don't sway from it (nor do I think they will).
As a side point, I really don't think the Lions and Nike will mess up these jerseys, as Fanatics has done with Major League Baseball's jerseys. No offense, MLB.
With all that said, I have one suggestion in mind: The Lions should add one of their popular slogans – whether it be “One Pride” or “All Grit” – to the inside of the jersey collar. I think that would be a nice, subtle addition to the franchise's unis.
Personally, I'd insert “All Grit” onto the jerseys. It epitomizes the new, winning culture that has been established in Detroit, via the leadership of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.
These aren't your grandfather's Lions, a team that was mired in mediocrity – and mostly irrelevancy – for decades and decades. These are the “Brand New Lions” – a team that possesses a never-say-never attitude, plus is built on grit and toughness and ultimately winning. And, I believe the “All Grit” catchphrase perfectly captures that essence.
The Lions could go in a variety of different directions with their new-look uniforms, so it's hard to predict what they exactly will do. However, I'll guarantee one thing: Just as has been true with the Lions on the field the past year, they won't disappoint when they roll out their updated jerseys Thursday night.
