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Look: Lions Unveil Alternate Helmet

Detroit will don alternate helmets in 2023.

Christian Booher

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The Detroit Lions have released a first look at their newest helmet. The alternate will be first worn during the upcoming 2023 season. 

The shell is matte blue, which is a color never before worn on an NFL helmet, with a matte gray facemask. According to a release from the organization, the helmets will only be worn with the team's all-gray uniforms.

Detroit will sport an alternate helmet for the first time since the league passed a rule allowing teams to sport multiple shells in 2022. The rule was originally designed for teams to wear only one shell to combat the rise of head injuries. 

In the past, the team has worn strictly a silver crown. Per Justin Rogers of The Detroit News, they will wear the helmets twice — in Week 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders and in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

The lone exception to the Lions' traditional helmets has been their throwbacks, which remain silver and the only change being the absence of the logo decal. 

The last change to the Lions' helmets came after the 2016 season, when they swapped black facemasks for silver ones. They changed logo looks last in 2009.

According to Helmet History, Detroit has worn strictly silver helmets since 1955, which was the last year it wore a blue shell.  

Alternate helmets for the team were first discussed after team president Rod Wood told the Detroit Free Press that the Lions would add them during the offseason. 

Wood also revealed in the interview that the team would not receive new uniforms in 2023, but that there could be "an interesting overhaul" to the look in 2024. 

The Lions have maintained their traditional uniforms since the logo redesign. Occasionally, the team will wear the all-gray color rush variant or sport throwback blue threads for Thanksgiving contests. 

The Lions teased the release of the alternate helmets Monday, via a social media post. 

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Christian Booher
CHRISTIAN BOOHER

Sports journalist who has covered the Detroit Lions the past three NFL seasons. Christian brings expert analysis, insights and an ability to fairly assess how the team is performing in a tough NFC North division. 

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