A former third-round pick who became a tackling machine in Detroit and now brings that production back to his home state.
Alex Anzalone spent five seasons as one of the most productive off-ball linebackers in Detroit, setting a franchise tackling streak before landing with Tampa Bay in 2026 free agency. For the Florida alum, signing with the Buccaneers is something of a homecoming.
Path to the league
Anzalone played four seasons at Florida from 2013 to 2016, appearing in 32 games with 10 starts and recording 75 tackles. The New Orleans Saints drafted him in the third round, 76th overall, in 2017.
Career highlights
After four seasons in New Orleans, Anzalone signed with Detroit in 2021 and became a defensive fixture, starting 73 games and piling up 490 tackles, 9 sacks, 33 passes defensed and three interceptions over five years. He put together the longest streak in Lions franchise history with five-or-more tackles in 30 straight games, and posted a career-high 125 tackles in 2022.
2025 season recap
Anzalone recorded 95 tackles across 16 games for the Lions in 2025 before a concussion sidelined him late in the season. He signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Buccaneers in 2026 free agency, returning to his home state of Florida.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Alex Anzalone
- Pro Football Reference: Alex Anzalone
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
16 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | lions | 16 | 95 | 52 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2024 | lions | 10 | 63 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | lions | 16 | 129 | 85 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | lions | 17 | 125 | 77 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2021 | lions | 14 | 78 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2020 | saints | 16 | 41 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | saints | 2 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | saints | 16 | 60 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | saints | 4 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Florida
- Hometown
- Wyomissing, PA, USA
- Age
- 31
- Status
- active
