Detroit Lions Make Statement with Matching Hoodies in 2025 NFL Draft War Room
The Detroit Lions once again used their draft-day wardrobe to make a statement. During the 2025 NFL Draft, when the team selected Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round, cameras captured everyone in the Lions’ war room dressed in identical black hoodies. On the front, the letters “H,” “W,” and “S” were each crossed out.
This isn’t a new tradition for Detroit. Over the past few drafts, they’ve made headlines for their symbolic fashion choices. In 2023, the team showed up wearing “positional villains” hoodies—a subtle response to critics who questioned their early-round picks in lower-valued positions. The following night, they all sported black Dan Campbell jerseys, aligning with the new team uniforms.
For this year’s draft, the Lions had a fresh message to deliver. According to general manager Brad Holmes, the crossed-out letters stood for “height, weight, and speed.” The idea behind the design was to emphasize Detroit’s commitment to evaluating players beyond basic metrics.
“We believe the toughest part of scouting is watching film,” Holmes explained. “Anybody can look at height, weight, or speed. Stats are simple. But assessing a player’s tape and understanding who they are—that’s the real challenge.”
The Lions’ draft strategy leans heavily on character and performance on film, which is why they’ve created a “Grit Index” to measure how well prospects fit their identity as “Dan Campbell guys.” Their 2025 picks reflect that philosophy. Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge ranked second in grit score among guards, and Isaac TeSlaa came in second among wide receivers.
Though some of Holmes’ draft decisions still draw criticism, his results speak for themselves. And these coordinated hoodies? Just another confident flex of the Lions’ unique scouting approach.
