The Lions are celebrating their 90th season of existence with some new threads.
It's been a long time coming for Detroit fans, who have been greeted with ocean-blue finery and silver-plated lids since the dawn of man, it seems.
Times are a-changing, though. And as the team prepares for perhaps its most exciting campaign in recent years, it's making an alteration. The Lions will be donning baby blue lids for the first time in their history, the team announced on Wednesday. It's a move that may come as a shock to some. But for those peering through the looking-glass that is the ever-changing NFL fashion landscape, Detroit's push towards modernity will be much-appreciated.
start your engines pic.twitter.com/aHOUjl9VQ0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 21, 2023
Lions fans might have a winner. Or maybe not. Only time will tell. Either way, here's what you need to know about the Motor City's latest innovation in fashion.
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Lions alternate helmet logo
Detroit found itself quite the crown to celebrate its latest anniversary. Lions players will be outfitted in moody blue hardhats at various points throughout the 2023 season.
The shimmering sapphire surface may evoke visions of the Great Lakes. But it's rooted in the organization's history, owing its shade to the crystal shells it rocked for a short spell in the 1950s.
The logo is where the real magic happens, however; Detroit's alternate insignia is flavored in nickel, featuring an outstretched lion drawing prowling in front of a blue and silver backing. The Lions used the logo back in the 1960s, back when the likes of Lem Barney, Alex Karras and Dick "Night Train" Lane called Detroit home.
Despite the significance of the emblem, the Lions never sported it on their helmets. Until now, that is.
ain’t she a beaut
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 21, 2023
The melodic piece of armor is shrouded in Honolulu blue, a shade never-before used on an NFL lid. It will pair with Detroit's knight-like all-gray alternate uniforms, which the Lions will wear during games against the Raiders (Week 8) and Vikings (Week 18).
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Detroit made numerous references to its past ahead of Wednesday's drop. The organization made sure to pay homage to former radio commentator Van Patrick, who called games throughout the 1950s, 1960s and early-1970s. He famously got around town in a 1973 Ford Mustang Shelby Mac 1. The iconic chariot featured heavily in the team's photoshoots. Its symbol is eerily similar to that of the Lions' alternate logo. That was an intentional choice — Detroit modeled its retro look off the Ford Mustang seal.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 21, 2023
She's pretty. She's blue. And she's sported by one of the more en vogue teams in the league. What's more to like?