Alex Anzalone

Anzalone comes to Detroit after spending the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints, who selected him in the third round (76th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Since tackles for loss became officially tracked in 1994, he is the first Lions player to produce 10-plus tackles and three tackles for loss in a season-opening game (9/8/2024).
• Recorded five-or-more tackles in 30 straight games (Week 1; 2022-Week 13; 2023), establishing the longest streak in franchise history since 2000.
• Has the fourth-most pass defenses (19) among linebackers since 2021. The mark ranks fourth-most by a Lions linebacker since 1994.
• He became the fourth player in franchise history to record multiple seasons with at least 125 tackles, doing so in 2022 and 2023.
• Registered a career-high 125 total tackles in 2022, his first 100-tackle season. He also logged a career-high seven tackles for loss.
• Was one-of-two NFL players with at least 125 tackles, 1.0 sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2022, becoming the first Lion to post this statline in a season since LB Chris Spielman in 1995.
• In 2022, he totaled at least five defensive tackles in all 17 games, joining LB DeAndre Levy (2014) as the only players in Lions history to have at least five defensive tackles in every game of a season.
• Ranked fifth among all NFL linebackers with 21 total pressures generated in 2022, per PFF.

COLLEGE

• Played four seasons at Florida (2013-16), appearing in 32 games (10 starts) and logging 75 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery. He was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and earned the team's Chris Patrick Courage Award in 2014.

PERSONAL

• Helped Wyomissing (Pa.) High School to its first Class AA state championship in 2012, finishing 16-0, a school single-season record for wins.
• Selected to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game.