Lions’ draft room delivers another fashion win with black Dan Campbell jerseys

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions have made their name through the draft in the three years with general manager Brad Holmes running the show.

But they’re also earning a reputation for winning hearts with their draft room fashion choices.

From Holmes rocking “Villain” sweatshirts to “Positional Villain” hoodies sending a message during his draft press conferences. To the entire draft room sporting freshly-made black No. 89 Dan Campbell Lions uniforms on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, receiving widespread adoration.

Holmes, speaking with reporters near the end of the final day of the draft, said that the full-circle idea came from team president Rod Wood. When Wood and the Lions revealed their new uniforms, he also revealed that Campbell came to them wanting a black alternate option.

“I’m not taking any credit for this one,” Holmes said Saturday. “I’m glad that the idea was brought up — but this was Rod Wood’s idea for us to wear these jerseys. I thought it looked awesome on television. I mean, just the texts that I was getting and just me seeing it, like, ‘Wow, that’s even cooler than I thought it was going to be.’

“It was Rod’s idea, obviously, with the new blacks and just the whole story about Dan when he wanted the black jerseys back, so it all kind of came full circle. I thought it was a good look.”

Related: Brad Holmes takes aim at critics of ‘positional value’ with new draft-day attire

Related Black uniforms a big hit for Dan Campbell, who requested them just weeks into job

Wood said he told the Lions head coach, who was only weeks into his tenure at the time of the request, to “Win the division” and then “we’ll bring the black jerseys back.”

“He loved ‘em because when he played here, he wore them,” Wood said during last week’s uniform reveal event from Ford Field. “It was the team’s favorite at the time, and he pined for it again. For him, it’s a throwback. And I think they dress up even better than when he was here with the pant combos. It’s a better look than the silver we wore at the time.”