A Pro Bowl-caliber Lions defensive tackle working his way back from a torn ACL after a $97 million extension.
Alim McNeill emerged as one of the NFL's best interior defenders before a late-season ACL tear derailed his 2024 campaign. Backed by a massive contract extension, he spent 2025 fighting to regain his All-Pro form for Detroit.
Path to the league
McNeill was a standout at NC State, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2018 and first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC recognition as a junior in 2020. The Detroit Lions selected him in the third round, 72nd overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
McNeill developed from a rookie rotational piece into a full-time starter by 2022 and racked up a career-best 5.0 sacks in 2023. His breakout continued into 2024, playing at a Pro Bowl level before signing a four-year, $97 million contract extension with Detroit in October of that year.
2025 season recap
McNeill tore his ACL in Week 15 of the 2024 season, an injury that carried into 2025. He opened the year on the physically unable to perform list and did not make his season debut until October 20, ultimately playing 10 games with 14 tackles, 1.0 sack and a pass deflection as he worked back to full strength.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Alim McNeill
- Pro Football Reference: Alim McNeill
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
10 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | lions | 10 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | lions | 14 | 25 | 17 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | lions | 13 | 32 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | lions | 17 | 41 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | lions | 17 | 39 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- NC State
- Hometown
- Raleigh, NC, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
