Detroit Lions hire Detroit Pistons’ COO as their new Team President, replacing Rod Wood
The Detroit Lions have officially found Rod Wood’s replacement. Richard Haddad has been named the team’s new president and CEO, bringing years of experience with the Pistons and a major role in some of Detroit’s biggest sports projects.
The Detroit Lions have officially named Richard Haddad as their new president and CEO, bringing the Rod Wood era to a close. Wood retired earlier in the offseason and said he would stay on until the Lions found their replacement. They have found him, and Haddad will join the Lions in early September.
According to the team, Haddad will assume oversight of all football and business operations of the Lions organization. He will work closely with Sheila Ford Hamp and the Lions board of directors to set the vision for the future growth of both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field.
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.” — Sheila Ford Hamp, Lions owner and chair
What Haddad brings to the table
Haddad has been around Detroit for a while. He spent 14 years with the Pistons, where he served as the team’s COO. He oversaw business operations, business affairs, and development for the Pistons and all of their companies and properties. He played a significant role in the Pistons’ move from the Palace of Auburn Hills to Little Caesars Arena, bringing the franchise back to Detroit. He was also a big part of opening the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, and he is currently helping to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit while developing the WNBA team headquarters and practice facility on the Detroit Riverfront.
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.” — Richard Haddad, Lions president and CEO
What this means for the Lions’ football operations
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to worry about Haddad getting involved in signing players or anything like that. His role will be similar to what Rod Wood handled with the Lions. The football side of things, the free agent signings, the draft decisions, all of that stays with GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell. That is still their department.
Haddad’s job is business first. He’ll be taking care of the franchise as a whole, overseeing the Ford Field property, and making sure everything runs smoothly on that side. He’ll communicate with the league, help grow corporate partnerships, and work to bring in new opportunities for the organization. He’ll also help strengthen relationships with local government, city of Detroit agencies, state agencies, community groups, and neighborhood advisory councils. Those are all things he’s already done with the Pistons.
This looks like a solid hire from the Lions considering everything Haddad accomplished during his time with the Pistons. He 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.
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