Former Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone
Getty
Former Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone
Linebacker Alex Anzalone has been referred to as the “heart and soul” of the Detroit Lions defense many times by many players and even head coach Dan Campbell.
The 31-year-old has been a mainstay in the middle of the team’s defense for the last five years, and he’s the living personification of what most people think of when they hear “Dan Campbell football.”
And with Anzalone a pending free agent, many Lions fans were hoping the team would find a way to keep him around. However, those fans were hit with some bad news on Monday afternoon, just two days before the NFL’s free-agency period officially begins.
Buccaneers Poach Anzalone With $17 Million Offer
Former Detroit Lions captain Alex Anzalone
GettyFormer Detroit Lions captain Alex Anzalone
According to multiple NFL insiders, Anzalone agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were looking for a new defensive leader with three linebackers of their own — Lavonte David, Deion Jones, and Anthony Walker Jr. — also hitting the free-agent market.
“BREAKING: Former #Lions LB Alex Anzalone is signing with the #Bucs for 2-years, $17M, per sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported. “Anzalone has started 93 games in his career and recorded 613 tackles, 4 INTs, and 13 sacks, and is a valued leader.”
In losing Anzalone, the Lions are losing 490 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, 3 interceptions, 33 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries, and 9 sacks of production over the last five years.
Anzalone logged 125 or more tackles in two of the last four years, and he was one of just three Lions defenders to play 1,000 or more defensive snaps last season (1,003) along with linebacker Jack Campbell (1,096) and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (1,005), according to Pro Football Focus.