The final game of Week 8 of the 2023 season is between the Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders. For the Lions, a win would help them pull further away from the Minnesota Vikings for first place in the NFC North. For their primetime game, the Lions wore some new uniforms.
Before the start of the season, the Lions unveiled their alternate blue helmets. Said helmets featured the retro Walking Lion logo used from 1946-62 and grey face masks. The team announced that these helmets would be worn during Week 8 against the Raiders but with their grey color rush uniforms.
Let's say the reaction to the uniforms has been a mixed bag.
Lions uniform choice criticized on social media during Monday Night Football
The Lions' blue helmets are so good, and the gray uniforms are so bad. pic.twitter.com/JRVqf7deoC
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023
My quick Lions uniform critique:
— FB_Helmet_Guy (@FB_Helmet_Guy) October 31, 2023
- Helmet color 👍
- Helmet logo 👎
* belongs on merch, not on a helmet
- Facemask 👍
- Uniform 💩 pic.twitter.com/uGqwVY75kt
I can't decide if I like this Lions helmet, but I do know I hate that it is paired with the awful all gray uniforms. pic.twitter.com/0MqxbRl9tW
— 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩 (@HelmetAddict) October 31, 2023
These Lions jerseys are just Memphis Tigers uniforms, no? pic.twitter.com/DF7CU4n6jg
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) October 31, 2023
Just flipped on MNF. What on earth are these Lions uniforms?
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 31, 2023
So the Lions decided to wear their grey alternate uniforms against a team who’s primary color is also grey. Hmmm
— Baxter Belafonté (@BaxterWrestles) October 31, 2023
These gray Lions uniforms with the blue helmets are just the worst. It’s a shame because the standard home getup is solid
— The Sass (@SkylerTheSass) October 31, 2023
love that the lions waited for primetime to roll out their worst uniforms
— Alida Banh (@AlidaBanh) October 31, 2023
This uniform combination was announced at the time of the unveiling of the new helmets back in June.
For those wondering why the team isn't wearing the new helmets with their Honolulu Blue home uniforms or even their white road uniforms, it's because the NFL rules state that alternate helmets must be worn with either alternate, retro, or Color Rush uniforms. The all-grey uniforms are Detroit's alternate uniforms this year, hence the decision to wear the new helmets with them, instead of their throwbacks.
Lions team president Rod Wood told the Detroit Free Press back in February, new uniforms could potentially arrive in 2024.
“There will not be new uniforms in 2023,” Wood said, h/t Pride of Detroit. “I know people get over their skis on that. It takes really two years to really get it going, so (Lions chief communications and brand officer) Brian (Facchini) and a team have been kind of working with Nike, looking at uniforms that will probably be for 2024.”
The Lions will also wear this uniform combination in Week 18 in their season finale against the Vikings.