A sixth-round Oklahoma State product who started as a rookie and delivered a signature interception in the NFC Championship Game.
Malcolm Rodriguez has been a scrappy, instinctive presence in Detroit's linebacker corps since arriving as a late-round pick in 2022. Known for outperforming his draft slot, Rodriguez earned a starting job immediately and became a key piece of the Lions' playoff runs before injuries slowed his last two seasons.
Path to the league
Rodriguez played linebacker at Oklahoma State from 2017 to 2021 before the Detroit Lions selected him in the sixth round, 188th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Rodriguez became Detroit's first rookie selected in the sixth round or later to start in Week 1 of his draft year since 1987. He delivered one of the signature plays of the Lions' 2023 playoff run, intercepting 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during the NFC Championship Game.
2025 season recap
Rodriguez was still working back from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2024 season and appeared in seven games for Detroit in 2025, serving primarily as a special-teams player with limited defensive snaps as he continued his recovery.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Malcolm Rodriguez
- Detroit Lions: Malcolm Rodriguez
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
7 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | lions | 7 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | lions | 10 | 43 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | lions | 17 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | lions | 16 | 87 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Oklahoma State
- Hometown
- Wagoner, OK, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
