A well-traveled undrafted linebacker out of Michigan State now providing depth for the Lions.
Joe Bachie has bounced across several NFL rosters since going undrafted out of Michigan State, building a reputation as a reliable depth linebacker and special teams contributor. He heads into the Lions' 2026 offseason program after a 2025 season split between snaps and injury.
Path to the league
Bachie was a three-year starting middle linebacker at Michigan State, playing in 40 career games with 34 starts and earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2018. He went unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
Career highlights
Bachie has worked his way through several NFL organizations since entering the league, including stops with the Saints, Eagles, Bengals, Colts and Titans, typically in a depth linebacker and special teams role before landing with Detroit.
2025 season recap
Bachie played 15 games in 2025, recording 21 tackles in a reserve linebacker role.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Joe Bachie
- Pro Football Reference: Joe Bachie
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
5 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | colts | 5 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | titans | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2025 Totals | 15 | 29 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | bengals | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | bengals | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | bengals | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | bengals | 9 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | eagles | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Michigan State
- Hometown
- Brook Park, OH, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
