I personally think the Lions have struggled to have an identity as a team.
Before Dan Campbell we had “defend the den” and “one pride” as team slogans.
We started under Dan as knee cap biters.
Then adopted the slogan “Grit”
Then the team wanted to be the villains. Which I personally felt was weird.
Last year our slogan changed to “It takes more”
I think the team embodies the identity of the city. I think we’re a blue collar, hard working team… but what would you say is our identity?
While I think Dans message to the team has stayed the same the team seems to lack a consistent message to the fans on who they are as a team.
I feel like we have a great team, a gritty team, a team Lions fans can get behind. I feel like we fell short of a superbowl two years in a row even though we had a Super Bowl caliber team. Circumstances kept us short of a prize and the team is going to have to overcome some changes on the OL and in the coaching staff but I still feel we’re a Super Bowl caliber team.
I am kinda hoping for a new slogan and team identity for this season…… One the team and fans can get behind and chant to the rafters on a Super Bowl run.
I think the grit identity is solid enough as a general ethos. They live up to it so it’s not just a dumb slogan.
Just spitballing, I think it’s important to remember that these guys, while they may love the city and identify with it, are proud pro athletes and great teammates.
So, I would say “Lock The Door” could be a thing. Once that locker room door is closed on game day and the team has gotten all the hype and cheerleading out of their system, it’s business time and all the noise means nothing.
I think the identity is more a blue collar team like the city which can get lost with the trick plays on offense.
At it’s core team wants to be a physical, never stop, keep coming at you type on both sides of the ball. Offense has been there, defense was getting close before the injuries. Now the offense may have to reset a little with the OL changes but I expect the goal to remain the same as it was.
a physical, never stop, keep coming at you type on both sides of the ball.
I like Lock the Door because it also means lock the stadium door, the other team ain’t getting out without a brawl. Apologies for the AI weirdness, but you get the idea.
The foundation is grit, though the message has to be packaged with new twists each year for freshness and urgency. As long as St Brown blocks, Sewell spews passion, and Hutch rampages like they have, the hordes have to follow their lead, right?
I thought the Villian schtick was solely a Brad Holmes thing and not a team identity. As I saw it, it acknowledged that the buck stopped with him in player negotiations, and then it morphed into Positional Villain with the 2023 draft.
Okay. I live in the jungle. Or, more properly, I am jungle-adjacent. A few clicks away as we say up north.
But there are no Lions in any jungle. None! There are panthers, yes. Snakes, bad ones, man. Wild pigs. I’ve encountered the last two. But no panthers and for sure no lions.
