Richard Haddad named Detroit Lions team president and CEO as Rod Wood prepares to depart

Detroit Lions leadership is changing with the team naming Richard Haddad as its next team president and CEO, a move that follows an announced transition plan for incumbent chief executive Rod Wood. The Lions had previously stated that Wood would retire before the start of the 2026 NFL season and that the organization would conduct a search for his successor.

According to the Lions’ announcement reported by Pro Football Rumors, that search concluded this week with Haddad selected to assume both top titles. In this structure, the team’s president and CEO responsibilities are combined under one executive, a decision that can affect how the organization aligns football operations, business strategy, and long-term planning.

Haddad arrives from the Detroit Pistons organization, where he has served as COO, bringing experience in basketball operations and day-to-day management of a major league franchise. That crossover is notable because NFL team leadership often benefits from operational continuity, vendor and stadium relationships, and institutional knowledge of how a multi-sport city franchise runs across seasons rather than only within the football calendar.

Wood’s departure had been positioned as a planned end to his tenure, and the organization’s prior messaging indicated it wanted a controlled transition rather than an abrupt change close to the 2026 season. With Haddad now in place, the Lions can shift from searching to executing under a single executive timeline, including budget planning, sponsorship and partnership oversight, and broader organizational governance leading into the regular season.

While the Lions will still manage their football-building process through the general manager and football leadership group, the president and CEO typically plays a central role in setting organizational priorities, evaluating performance against internal goals, and ensuring that major initiatives are resourced and staffed. The combined appointment also suggests the franchise intends to consolidate decision-making authority rather than split titles among multiple executives.

For fans and observers, the immediate on-field impact is indirect, but it can show up in how the organization handles offseason planning, training-camp logistics, and the business side of franchise operations that support football performance. The first clear test will be how quickly Haddad establishes operational rhythms with the rest of the Lions’ senior leadership, especially as the team prepares for the 2026 season under the new leadership structure.