Rod Wood’s Out, Richard Haddad’s In
The Detroit Lions have officially moved on from Rod Wood. Richard Haddad is the new team president and CEO, and he’ll start early September.
Wood retired earlier in the offseason and said he’d stick around until they found someone. They found him. Haddad spent 14 years with the Pistons as their COO, and now he’s bringing that experience across town to Ford Field.
According to the team, Haddad will oversee all football and business operations. He’ll work directly with Sheila Ford Hamp and the Lions board of directors to set the vision for future growth of both the franchise and Ford Field.
What Haddad Actually Brings
Haddad isn’t some outsider parachuting into Detroit with a consultant’s playbook. He’s been here. He knows this city.
He oversaw business operations, business affairs, and development for the Pistons and all their companies and properties for over a decade. He played a significant role in moving the Pistons from the Palace of Auburn Hills back to Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. He helped open the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. And right now, he’s working to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit while developing the team headquarters and practice facility on the Detroit Riverfront.
That’s real infrastructure work. Not just talk.
Haddad said he’s thrilled to join the Lions organization. He thanked Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem for 14 years with the Pistons. He also said he’s a lifelong Lions fan, which means he understands firsthand how much this team means to the city and state. He called the foundation built by Sheila, Rod Wood, Brad Holmes, and Dan Campbell incredible, and said he can’t wait to build on it and deliver for the fans and community.
Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell Are Still Running Football
Let’s make this clear. Haddad is not making draft picks. He is not signing free agents. He is not walking into the building and telling Brad Holmes who to trade for.
His role is similar to what Rod Wood handled. The football side stays with Holmes and Campbell. Period.
Haddad’s job is business first. He’ll oversee the Ford Field property, communicate with the league, help grow corporate partnerships, and bring in new opportunities for the organization. He’ll strengthen relationships with local government, city of Detroit agencies, state agencies, community groups, and neighborhood advisory councils. All things he’s already done with the Pistons.
This is a solid hire. Haddad knows Detroit, he knows what it takes to run a major sports franchise in this city, and now he gets to do it for a team he’s been a fan of his entire life.
Does hiring someone from the Pistons organization give you confidence or make you nervous? Drop your take below.
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