The Detroit Lions may need to prepare to enter next season without one of their go-to leaders during their rebuild. Lions five-time captain and defensive cornerstone Alex Anzalone is on the track to become a free agent this March. While Anzalone has made his desire to remain in Detroit clear, it may not come true.
Alex Anzalone’s Uncertain Future With the Detroit Lions
Early Career in New Orleans
Drafted 76th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints , Anzalone left the University of Florida with the potential for a promising career in the NFL and defined his time in New Orleans as both promising and inconsistent. While Anzalone showed both playmaking ability and three-down versatility, he struggled to stay healthy, ultimately ending his career in New Orleans.
Following the completion of his rookie contract with the Saints in 2021, the Lions signed Anzalone to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. This new addition to the team was a critical decision made by head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes during the rebuild, and it quickly paid off.
His Early Impact in Detroit
During Anzalone’s first season with the Lions, he started in 14 games, recording 78 total tackles, 49 solo tackles, one sack, one interception, and seven passes defended before suffering from a season-ending shoulder injury during their Week 15 matchup. Following that season, Anzalone was asked to return to Detroit for the 2022 season on a one-year contract, and he did not disappoint. Anzalone started in 17 games, recording 125 total tackles, 77 solo tackles,1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovered, one interception, and six passes defended.
Following Anzalone’s impressive production during the 2022 season, Detroit rewarded him with a three-year, $18.75 million extension going into 2023. Over the duration of this deal, Anzalone remained a strong presence on the field, starting in 42 games and recording 287 total tackles, 180 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 20 passes defended over the span of three seasons while earning consecutive top-25 grades among linebackers by Pro Football Focus.
Contract Uncertainty & Tension at Training Camp
Despite his performance, the Lions never facilitated a conversation regarding an extension, and these issues became apparent going into training camp this past summer. Anzalone hinted towards frustration regarding the way contract discussions had unfolded while making it abundantly clear that he saw a future in Detroit, stating, “I want to retire a Lion. I want that opportunity.”
At the time, head coach Dan Campbell briefly addressed the situation with the press, but the tension between Anzalone and the Lions front office reflects a broader reality not only under Brad Holmes but also any team trying to transition from a rebuild to a contender: difficult decisions have to be made in order to take that next step.
Despite Anzalone’s uncertain future with the Lions, he still put his best foot forward going into the 2025 season, starting 16 games, recording 95 total tackles, 52 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception, and nine passes defended, reasserting himself as a stable presence on the field.
What Anzalone’s Departure May Mean for Detroit
With Anzalone’s time in Detroit completed as of now, many people are expecting his departure, with some reports hinting at a possible reunion with former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets. The decision to potentially let go of Anzalone was not taken lightly by the Lions’ front office and appears to be motivated by the Detroit Lions’ financial interests. The franchise has already invested in the long-term core of the linebacker group with Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell, costing them over $40 million. Not only that, but they are putting up similar, if not better, stats at a younger age, providing the Lions with not only production but also longevity.
Regardless, replacing both Anzalone’s leadership and productivity will be no easy feat, as he has become one of the key players who took Detroit from the bottom of the league to Super Bowl contenders. If this marks the end of Anzalone’s time in Detroit, they will not only be losing a veteran linebacker, but they will be letting go of one of the most defining voices and stabilizing forces of the Lions’ rebuild.