The good: We saw third-year linebacker Jack Campbell develop into one of the top MIKE linebackers, earning a First-Team All-Pro selection to go along with his first Pro Bowl nod after finishing second in the NFL with 176 tackles (89 solo) with nine tackle for loss, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Campbell has a ton of versatility, and his play style just fits in Detroit. He's become the unquestioned leader in the center of Detroit's defense and had nine games this season with 10-or-more tackles, tied for the third-most in a season by a Lions player since 1994.
Detroit's linebacker group, along with the defense overall, was a very good tackling unit in 2025. Detroit had the third fewest missed tackles in the NFL this season with 76. Only New England (71) and Kansas City (75) had fewer. Low missed tackle numbers correlate to limiting yards after the catch and Detroit's 1,539 yards allowed after the catch were the second fewest in the NFL behind only Buffalo (1,539).
While Campbell led the Lions in tackles, he was followed by fellow linebackers Alex Anzalone (95) and Derrick Barnes (78) who were second and third on the team. Barnes had career highs in sacks (4.0), tackles for loss (6) and passes defended (3) and was three tackles short of his career high there.
| Name | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell | 17 | 176 | 9 | 5.0 | 3 | 2 |
| Alex Anzalone | 16 | 95 | 4 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Barnes | 17 | 78 | 6 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Nowaske | 15 | 22 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Grant Stuard | 17 | 19 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | 7 | 12 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Cunningham | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
The bad: When the Lions decided to blitz and send extra rushers at opposing quarterbacks, they did so with inconsistent success. Opposing quarterbacks had a 101.3 passer rating with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions throwing against Detroit's blitz this season. The Lions did force 16 sacks while blitzing, the sixth most in the league.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard prides himself on stopping the run first and after allowing only three 100-yard rushing performances to opponents through their first nine contests of the season, Detroit only held two opponents under 100 rushing yards in their last eight games. Detroit finished 14th against the run allowing 114.5 yards per game with a 4.4 average per rush.
Key stat: Campbell also contributed on special teams and became the first NFL player since 1994 to produce a season with at least 165 defensive tackles and 10 special teams tackles.
Free agents: Anzalone (unrestricted), Malcolm Rodriguez (unrestricted), Grant Stuard (unrestricted), Zach Cunningham (unrestricted), Ezekiel Turner (unrestricted), Trevor Nowaske (restricted).
Roughly half of Detroit's linebacker room is headed toward free agency so that room could look very different in 2026. Anzalone has been a staple since GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell arrived in 2021, recording at least 95 tackles in three of his last four seasons. He said after the season that he'd like to sign another contract in Detroit and retire a Lion.
Rodriguez returned in November from a torn ACL suffered last season. He's played a key reserve and special teams role his first four years.
Nowaske has become a special teams ace for Detroit leading the team in special teams tackles this season and playing a reserve SAM linebacker role.
View photos of the Detroit Lions linebackers from the 2025 NFL season.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) runs with the ball after he makes an interception during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Md. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) gets a sack safety during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates after a sack during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) in action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Draft: Campbell returns at the MIKE and Barnes at the SAM, but Detroit could be in the market for a versatile WILL linebacker with Anzalone and Rodriguez headed toward free agency.
A few names to get familiar with in this year's draft process include Arvell Reese (Ohio State), Sonny Styles (Ohio State), Jake Golday (Cincinnati), CJ Allen (Georgia), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) and Deontae Lawson (Alabama).
Reese's versatility is intriguing. He split time between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker logging snaps at defensive end, inside linebacker and even playing some in the slot. Hill has some versatility to his game as well.
Quotable: "Growing up, my dad always used to tell me to leave the place better than you found it," Anzalone said after the season. "I feel like I definitely did that. So, if it is (my last year in Detroit), I feel good about my body of work and I'm proud of it. We'll see what happens. It's kind of too soon to say."
