The Rod Wood Era Is Over and Richard Haddad Is In
The Detroit Lions have a new team president. Richard Haddad is coming over from the Pistons where he spent 14 years as COO, and he will officially join the Lions in early September. Rod Wood retired earlier in the offseason and stayed on until the franchise found his replacement. They found him.
Haddad will oversee all football and business operations for the Lions. He will work directly with Sheila Ford Hamp and the board of directors to set the vision for the future growth of both the team and Ford Field.
Sheila Ford Hamp had this to say about the hire:
“Rich is a proven leader who understands what it means to steward an iconic sports franchise in the city of Detroit, and we are thrilled that he is bringing that experience to the Lions. Throughout our process, Rich’s experience, steady leadership style, and grasp on the present and future state of team sports were clear differentiators. My family and I are excited to work with Rich on driving the Lions forward in our continued pursuit to bring a championship to Detroit.”
What Haddad Actually Brings to Detroit
Haddad has been around Detroit sports for a long time. He was with the Pistons for 14 years. He oversaw business operations, business affairs, and development for the Pistons and all of their companies and properties.
He played a significant role in moving the Pistons from the Palace of Auburn Hills back to Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. That alone tells you he knows how to navigate big projects in this city. He also helped open the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. Right now he is working to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit and developing the WNBA team headquarters and practice facility on the Detroit Riverfront.
That is not a thin resume. That is real work in real Detroit buildings with real Detroit politics and real Detroit money.
Haddad shared his excitement about the new role:
“I am thrilled to join the Detroit Lions organization as its next president and CEO. I want to thank Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust in me, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem, for 14 great years with the Pistons. As a lifelong Lions fan, I understand firsthand how much this team means to the city and state, and I’m honored and humbled to lead this franchise. Sheila, Rod Wood, Brad Holmes, and Dan Campbell have built an incredible foundation, and I can’t wait to work with them to build on that and deliver for our fans and community.”
A lifelong Lions fan. Sure. We have heard that before. But at least this one has a track record of actually getting things done in Detroit.
What This Means for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell
Let me be clear about this because I know where your brain is going. Haddad is not making football decisions. He is not signing players. He is not involved in the draft. That is not his job. That is Brad Holmes’ job and Dan Campbell’s job, and it will stay that way.
Haddad’s role is business. He will oversee the franchise as a whole, manage the Ford Field property, and make sure everything runs smoothly on that side of the operation. He will communicate with the league, grow corporate partnerships, and bring in new opportunities for the organization. He will also strengthen relationships with local government, city of Detroit agencies, state agencies, community groups, and neighborhood advisory councils. Those are all things he already did with the Pistons.
This is Rod Wood’s old job. Wood did not mess with football operations either. Holmes and Campbell had full control then and they have full control now. Nothing changes there.
If you trust Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, and you should, then this hire does not threaten that. It supports it.
This Looks Like a Solid Move
Considering everything Haddad accomplished with the Pistons, this looks like a solid hire. He knows Detroit. He knows what it takes to run a major sports franchise in this city. He knows how to work with the city, the state, the corporate partners, and the community. And now he gets to do it for a team he says he has been a fan of his entire life.
We will see if that fandom translates into competence. But based on what he did across town, there is reason to believe it will.
Is this the kind of behind-the-scenes move that actually matters or are we all just pretending business operations guys make a difference? Drop your take below.
