Tag: lions

Lions linebacker Jack Campbell practices during minicamp at Allen Park.

Report: Lions decline LB Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Lions reportedly made a split decision with their 2023 first-round draft selections, picking up running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ fifth-year option but not All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell’s.

Fox 2 Detroit broke the news Tuesday night and a source confirmed the information to ESPN.

Gibbs will earn a guaranteed $14.29 million for the 2027 season. Campbell’s option would have paid him an estimated $21.925 million, which is more than the league’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker, per ESPN.

ESPN reported that the Lions want to bring Campbell back on a long-term extension, as well as Gibbs. Tight end Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, also are due for extensions. Since they were not first-round picks, the Lions do not need to sign them to extensions immediately.

Gibbs, 24, made the decision a no-brainer by racking up 5,029 yards from scrimmage with 49 touchdowns in 49 games (24 starts) across his first three seasons, earning three straight Pro Bowl selections.

Campbell, 25, earned All-Pro first-team and Pro Bowl honors last season with career highs in tackles (176), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three) in 17 starts. He has 402 tackles and 8.5 sacks through 51 games (46 starts).

The Lions took Gibbs with the 12th overall pick and Campbell with the 18th selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) reacts after a sack in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Lions add edge rusher D.J. Wonnum

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent edge rusher D.J. Wonnum, the team announced Wednesday.

Wonnum, 28, is signing a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to multiple reports. The team did not announce terms.

He started 15 of the 16 regular-season games he played in last season for the Carolina Panthers, totaling 42 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, one interception and one fumble recovery. He also started and made give tackles in the Panthers’ playoff game, a 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round.

Wonnum has 250 career tackles, 30 sacks, 32 tackles for loss, 59 QB hits, one interception, 15 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries — including one returned for a touchdown — in 86 regular-season games (54 starts) for the Minnesota Vikings (2020-23) and Panthers.

Minnesota selected Wonnum in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Darius Slay: Cornerback | Years with Detroit: 2013–2019. He was a three-time Pro Bowler while with the Lions (2017–2019) and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2017 when he tied for the NFL lead with 8 interceptions and defended 26 passes. Known for his quickness, ball-hawking instincts and leadership in Detroit’s secondary, Slay became one of the most impactful defensive backs of his era for the franchise.

Six-time Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay announces retirement

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. announced his retirement in a social media post Monday.

The former second-round pick in 2013 was a six-time Pro Bowl selection in 13 NFL seasons.

“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Slay said in the caption of his announcement video on Instagram. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything.

“This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey.”

Slay, 35, made three Pro Bowls with both Detroit (2013-19) and Philadelphia (2021-24). The Eagles released him last March and he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing 10 games (nine starts) in 2025 before he was placed on waivers in early December.

The Buffalo Bills claimed Slay, but he elected to not report and instead sat out the remainder of the season.

In a clip he reposted on social media before announcing his retirement, Slay made it clear he only has one team he would consider playing for in 2026.

“No team can call me but Eagles. No team can call me, everybody knows,” Slay said.

Slay, a first-team All-Pro cornerback in 2017, finishes his professional career with 655 tackles, 28 interceptions (three he returned for touchdowns), 17 tackles for loss, 163 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries (two for touchdowns) in 187 games (176 starts).

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) reacts after a play against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Report: Lions signing ex-Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions are signing former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Pacheco, 27, gives the Lions a new backfield partner for Jahmyr Gibbs after they traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans earlier this month.

Pacheco won two Super Bowl rings in four seasons with the Chiefs, who agreed to a three-year deal on Monday with former Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.

A seventh-round pick (251st overall) in 2022, Pacheco rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 88 passes for 554 yards and three scores in 51 games (42 starts) with Kansas City. He added 689 scrimmage yards and four TDs in 10 postseason games.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) warms up ahead of the Washington Commanders game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Reports: Bears signing ex-Lions WR/PR Kalif Raymond

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears are signing receiver/return specialist Kalif Raymond to a one-year, $5.1 million deal, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Raymond, 31, spent the past five seasons with NFC North rival Detroit and will be reunited with Bears head coach Ben Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022-24.

Last season, Raymond caught 24 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown in 15 games. He also returned a league-high 32 punts for 241 yards and a touchdown and returned six kickoffs for 161 yards.

In 112 career games (33 starts), Raymond has 190 catches for 2,554 yards and nine touchdowns. He has returned three punts for scores and tallied 5,989 all-purpose yards with the Denver Broncos (2016), New York Jets (2017), New York Giants (2017), Tennessee Titans (2019-20) and Lions.

Chicago wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El was Raymond’s position coach in Detroit from 2021-24.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.

LT Taylor Decker requests release from Lions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Left tackle Taylor Decker, the Detroit Lions’ longest-tenured player, requested his release from the team.

Decker announced the news over social media on Friday, just a little over a week after he wrote that he intended to return for an 11th NFL season.

“Things change,” Decker wrote on Instagram. “145 games started, 3 playoff appearances, 2 division titles, a decade carrying the shield. I fully intended to do it once again, but my time as a Lion is coming to an end.

“In the weeks since notifying the team of my return there have been numerous discussions. Many of which were a surprise to me, and we could not find common ground. Therefore I decided to request my release.”

On Feb. 24, Decker posted a picture of himself running onto the field and a caption reading, “‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; SEND ME!’ #Year11”

The No. 16 overall pick out of Ohio State in the 2016 NFL Draft, Decker started all 140 regular-season games as well as five playoff contests that he played with Detroit.

Decker, 32, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024. He admitted he had to battle through a shoulder injury last season that severely limited him in practice and made him seriously consider stepping away from the game.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions guard Graham Glasgow (60) warms up ahead of the Minnesota Vikings game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Lions release veteran OL Graham Glasgow

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions released starting offensive lineman Graham Glasgow on Monday.

The Lions are expected to save $5.5 million against the cap with the move, which came hours after they traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.

A fixture on the Detroit offensive line during his career, Glasgow bid farewell to the Lions in a social media post.

“I’m grateful for the 7 years I’ve spent as a Detroit Lion,” he wrote. “I’m thankful for the great teammates, coaches, and friends I had along the way. I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.

“Whether the times were good or bad, I’m proud of the time that I was able to spend here. Detroit and being a Lion has had a huge impact on making me into the man that I am today, and because of that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

“I wish the Lions, especially my former teammates, nothing but the best. I will always be a fan of the guys who I took the field with, and I’ll always be a fan of the team that changed my life. Thank you!”

Glasgow, 33, could decide to retire or try to catch on with another team.

A third-round draft pick in 2016, Glasgow quickly became a starter on the Lions’ offensive line, spending time at guard and center. He played in Detroit for his first four seasons before becoming a free agent in 2020. He then spent three years with the Denver Broncos before returning to the Lions in 2023 as they were emerging as one of the NFC’s top teams.

Glasgow has appeared in 147 career games, making 136 starts. He committed just two penalties in 895 snaps (872 offensive) last season.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

Reports: Lions trading RB David Montgomery to Texans

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions are trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The Lions will receive offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and fourth- and seventh-round picks in next month’s draft in exchange, per NFL Network.

ESPN reported Sunday that Montgomery wanted out of Detroit after three seasons, seeking a situation where he wasn’t splitting carries with Jahmyr Gibbs.

Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, is owed $6 million for the 2026 season.

With Joe Mixon sitting out the entire season with an injury, the Texans finished 22nd in the NFL in rushing in 2025 at 108.9 yards per game. Rookie Woody Marks led the team with 703 yards on the ground and Nick Chubb, who turned 30 in December, added 506 yards.

Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts) in the 2025 season.

He has rushed for 6,115 yards and 59 touchdowns and caught 231 passes for 1,890 yards and four TDs in 105 games (79 starts) with the Chicago Bears (2019-22) and Lions. Chicago drafted him in the third round in 2019.

The transaction can become official on the first day of the new league year on March 11.

Earlier Monday, the Texans reportedly agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft pick.

Scruggs, 26, has played in 37 games (20 starts) since the Texans drafted him in the second round in 2023.

Gibbs, who turns 24 on March 20, made his third Pro Bowl in as many seasons in 2025 after rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 starts.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.

Lions LT Taylor Decker says he’s returning for 11th season in 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After some time deliberating his future, Lions left tackle Taylor Decker announced he’ll return for an 11th season with Detroit in 2026 on Tuesday.

Decker, 32, announced the news on Instagram with a picture of himself running onto the field and a caption reading, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am; SEND ME!” #Year11″

The 16th overall pick out of Ohio State in the 2016 NFL Draft, Decker has started all 140 regular-season games as well as five playoff contests that he has played with Detroit.

He was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024, but admitted he had to battle through a shoulder injury last season which severely limited him in practice and made him seriously consider stepping away from the game.

“If that’s what my future is going to be to continue to play — that’s not something I’m willing to do. Because I’m not willing to put my family through it,” Decker said after the season finale on Jan. 4. “I’m not willing to be distant and not be a present father, because your kids are only little once, and, God willing, we have more. I want to be able to play with them. I want to be able to throw the ball with them. I mean, I can’t throw a football right now. No way.”

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates a first down against Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

Lions selected to play in Munich in 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions will play a regular season game in 2026 in Munich, Germany, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

The Lions’ opponent and date will be announced when the full schedule is revealed in the spring.

The Munich game is one of a record nine international contests taking place across four continents next season.

Allianz Arena, the 70,000-seat home of Bundesliga powerhouse FC Bayern Munich, is the site of the game. The stadium will also host a game in 2028, with the NFL playing games in Berlin in 2027 and 2029.

“Germany continues to be a key market in the NFL’s international growth ambitions, with Europe’s largest fanbase,” said NFL Germany general manager Alexander Steinforth. “We are excited to welcome the Detroit Lions to play in the 2026 NFL Munich game — and in partnership with the Lions, FC Bayern Munich and the City of Munich, we look forward to bringing an incredible NFL experience to fans across the region in the NFL 2026 season.”

The Lions have marketing rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as part of the league’s global markets program.

“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” said Lions president and CEO Rod Wood. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.”

Playing in Germany holds special significance for Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” the two-time All-Pro receiver said. “I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”

The Lions’ two previous international games were played in London in 2014 and 2015.

–Field Level Media