After their set of new jerseys was inadvertently leaked earlier in the day, the Detroit Lions unveiled their full set of uniforms Thursday night at Ford Field in front of a crowd of media and season ticket holders.
While the majority of the changes to Detroit’s uniform were minor adjustments (ie: the addition of a few stripes and a larger change to the jersey’s font), the most notable development was was the reintroduction of black uniforms. The black jerseys were revealed earlier today, but during the full release, Detroit revealed a set of black pants to pair with this uniform, which is topped with the team’s blue-chrome alternate helmet, which had its own modifications. .
The black uniforms were one of the most requested changes, according to team sources. Detroit previously had black uniforms after a reveal in 2003, but after one of the worst eras of Lions football under former general manager Matt Millen, Detroit removed them from the rotation with the release of their uniform in 2017.
The main difference between these old black uniforms and the new ones is that the numbers are no longer highlighted by a thick white lining, but rather by a thin gray line with less contrast. Plus, obviously, the new black uniforms will be matched with black pants, unlike the awkward contrast with the gray pants of the past. Detroit will also have the option of pairing the black jerseys with their blue pants.
The rest of the uniform seemed to be a nod to the past, especially with the blocky font and perforated jerseys. And the Lions’ retro uniforms, a very popular tradition, are still part of the rotation and relatively unchanged. Additionally, the Lions added a blue mask.
Here’s a look at all our photos from the uniform’s official release Thursday evening.
Home uniforms
- Different shades of blue
- Blue mask
- New block font
- Inside the collar it says “ONE PRIDE”.
- Features a patch inside the back collar honoring William Clay Ford
- The blue jersey can be worn with new silver striped pants or with unadorned silver, blue or white pants.
Away uniforms
- DETROIT nameplate
- Block lettering
- The inside of the collar says “313”.
- The white jersey can be worn with new silver striped pants or with unadorned silver, blue or white pants.
Alternative uniforms
- All black uniforms
- LIONS nameplate
- Inside collar reads “MOTOR CITY”
- Can be worn with black or blue pants
- New alternative helmet with modern black logo, black mask
For more information on each uniform model, check out the official Lions uniform page, which is quite impressive.