DETROIT — The black Detroit Lions jerseys have returned in part thanks to coach Dan Campbell. In 2021, before he had coached his first Lions game, he made a request to Rod Wood, team president. “We were in the draft room and he said, ‘Hey, Rod when can we get the black jerseys back?’ I said, ‘I’ll make you a deal, when you win the division, I’ll bring the black jerseys back. I went out on a limb and thankfully he delivered.’’ Campbell  had worn the black jerseys when he was a Lions tight end, so to him they were a throwback.  So the coach held up his part of the deal when the Lions c ..read more

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes’ success with his first three NFL drafts has been unquestioned with five Pro Bowl picks. It’s a good haul and one reason why the Lions are legitimately mentioned in the same sentence as the Super Bowl. So for anyone paying attention, Holmes has had the same philosophy and just tweaked it along the way. Certainly the Lions have needs at cornerback, edge rusher and offensive guard. It’s not just that Holmes won’t tip his hat about who he will draft with the 29th overall pick next Thursday, it’s that he doesn’t know. It’s all about the player more than th ..read more

ALLEN PARK — When the Lions reported for offseason workouts this week, it was as defending NFC North champs. While that’s something quite new, the goal remains the same. They ended last season one win short of making it to the Super Bowl. Certainly that provides a different approach to the offseason. “I think we all know what the goal is, it’s always been the goal. I don’t think it was not the goal last year,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said on Tuesday. “I think we got a chance to taste it last year so you get to see what it feels like but that’s the goal, and this year it’s absolutely the goal ..read more

ALLEN PARK — Edge rusher Marcus Davenport knows Lions coach Dan Campbell from their days with the New Orleans Saints. It may be what helped to steer him in the direction of Detroit. Davenport signed a one-year deal with the Lions this week that has a maximum value of $10.5 million with a base of $6.5 million. He described his game as violent and physical. “But that’s even something I want to change. I want to adapt, I want to learn. I was told recently that there’s a lot of young guys that can learn from me and my first thought was we’ve got a lot of guys I can learn from,’’ said Davenport who ..read more

ALLEN PARK — Jalen Reeves-Maybin is happy to stay in Detroit with his Detroit Lions contract extended through the 2025 season. The linebacker/special teamer signed a two–year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Lions on Feb. 26. The deal made Reeves-Maybin the highest paid core special teamer in the NFL. “It definitely means a lot, I’ve spent so many years of my life here now, it’s starting to feel like home, raising my family here, it is definitely great not to have to move,’’ Reeves-Maybin said at a Thursday press conference. Last season Reeves-Maybin played in all 17 games. A special ..read more

ALLEN PARK — Veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader has agreed to a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions which is worth up to $27.5 million. “The energy as soon as I got here today was amazing. I was super happy, saw some familiar faces, that was a really good feel. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,’’ Reader said during a Thursday night press conference. Reader, who turns 30 in July, was on the radar visited the Lions on Thursday. He fills a huge need on the defensive line, a point of emphasis for the offseason needs.  “The physicality of it, that’s the best part, the best part (of the ..read more

ALLEN PARK — Brad Holmes is tired of the Detroit Lions successful season being described as a “cute story.’’ That is because, in the mind of the Detroit Lions vice president and general manager, it was none of that. It was not a Cinderella, magical season. It was much more. Yes, the Lions won their first playoff game in 30 years — and they won a pair of them — but it was not an accident. There was no magic dust involved and fans can expect more in the future. “I want to tell our fans, look, it’s only going to get better. We’re only going to get better. … This is exactly what was supposed ..read more

ALLEN PARK —  And then it was Monday.  The Detroit Lions cleaned out their lockers, said their goodbyes and, along with coach Dan Campbell, reflected on the 34-31 loss to the 49ers in Sunday’s NFC Championship game. “Our guys eyes are open. This should be the ultimate motivation to push forward and it will be for us, it will be,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll learn and move on.’’ Of course they are not happy with the defeat, after watching a 17-point lead evaporate in the second half. “This is what you hear about all the time in catastrophes — it doesn’t take one or two, it takes 12 things ..read more

A trip to the Super Bowl was there for the taking. The Lions jumped out aggressively on offense and defense in the first half at San Francisco on Sunday and took a 17-point lead into halftime. All was good. Then in the second half, everything fell apart. “It’s like getting your heart ripped out, that’s hard,’’ an emotional coach Dan Campbell said afterward. The San Francisco 49ers came back after a 24-7 halftime deficit and earned a trip to the Super Bowl with a 34-31 win. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs who beat the Baltimore Ravens in the earlier game. Campbell said at halftime they we ..read more

ALLEN PARK — It’s not that it’s been 32 years since the Lions have been to an NFC Championship game. That doesn’t really play into the preparation for Sunday’s matchup at San Francisco. The 49ers have been to the NFC Championship game four of the last five years. It’s all new territory for most of  the Lions.  Coach Dan Campbell will not try to calm them down if they’re too emotional at kickoff. “I’m not pulling them back, we’re going. They’ll adjust on the fly. We’re going in, they’ll be ready,’’ Campbell said. Throughout the week, the media attention has been more intense with more ..read more