AH #97

Aidan Hutchinson

Defensive End · Michigan

Lions edge rusher who returned from a broken leg to record 14.5 sacks and sign the richest non-QB guarantee in NFL history.

Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia and fibula in October 2024 while leading the NFL in sacks. The 2025 comeback was complete. 14.5 sacks, 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and a four-year, $180 million extension on October 29 that set the record for non-QB guaranteed money at $141 million. The injury that was supposed to derail his career instead set him up for a long-term Lions cornerstone deal.

★ 2x Pro Bowl

★ 2021 Heisman Trophy runner-up

★ $180M extension with $141M guaranteed (2025), a record for non-QB guarantee

★ Led NFL in sacks through 5 games (2024)

★ Unanimous All-American (2021)

Path to the league

Michigan defensive end, 2021 Heisman runner-up (rare for a defender), unanimous All-American. Lions took him second overall in 2022 to anchor the defensive rebuild. Made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Through five games of 2024 he had a league-leading 7.5 sacks before the broken leg.

Career highlights

2x Pro Bowler. 2024 first-team All-Pro candidate before injury. 43 career sacks across four seasons. 2021 Heisman Trophy runner-up. $180 million extension with $141 million guaranteed (October 2025), the largest guarantee for a non-QB at signing.

2025 season recap

Cleared for the regular-season opener after intense rehab. Posted 7.5 sacks through 10 games and finished with 14.5 for the year, 18 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles. Combined with Detroit's offensive firepower to lead the Lions to a 14-3 record and the NFC's No. 1 seed. Lost in the NFC Championship Game to the Rams.

What to watch in 2026

Detroit drew the easiest schedule in football. Hutchinson is 26 in August and under contract through 2030. The Lions added rotational depth at edge but Hutchinson's snap count should stay around 80 percent. The question after a 14.5-sack comeback is whether he can hit the 18-20 sack range that DPOY voters reward.