Grant Stuard could have signed with a team that didn't have an established linebacker room like Detroit's with maybe a clearer path to seeing the field on defense, but the veteran said one word really stood out to him in deciding to sign with the Lions — culture.

"Culture, immediately," he said Thursday after signing his one-year contract with Detroit. "From watching Detroit, playing against them (last season with Colts), my family rooting for them ever since Dan Campbell has been here. I'm a guy that loves to work hard. I love to improve. I love to be coached. I'm really big on just being the best version of myself every single day and I feel like this is an environment that's super conducive to that."

Stuard comes to Detroit after playing the last three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He's played both defense and special teams, the latter being where's he's made the most impact. In fact, he's recorded over 1,000 career snaps on special teams, 342 of which came this past season — 88 on kick coverage, 94 on kick return, 70 on punt coverage, 53 on punt return and 37 on field goal/extra point block.

He joked Thursday he was already getting coached up by Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp when the two sat down during his visit to the Meijer Performance Center to sign his contract and meet the coaching staff Thursday.

In addition to his work on special teams, Stuard received a career-high number of snaps at linebacker in 2024. He logged 229 reps, which accounted for 20 percent of the Colts' defensive snaps. He appeared in 17 games (five starts), totaling 40 tackles (25 solo) and two tackles for loss. He had a career-high 19 tackles in the Colts' Week 7 win over Miami when asked to play 64 snaps on defense.

He was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round (259th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. In 66 career games, Stuard has posted 43 tackles (26 solo), two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and one forced fumble on defensive snaps. On special teams, he has added 30 tackles (22 solo) and a blocked-punt returned for a touchdown.

"My play style is definitely crash out," he said. "Play style is definitely relentless effort. Doing what I have to do to make the plays to help the team win. Whether that's setting up a play for somebody else or making the play myself. Whether that's running through the fullback's face. Whether that's playing fullback if you need me to. Just open to whatever to help the team win."

Stuard said Detroit is a place where he knows he'll be coached hard and can become the best version of himself as a player. That, and the culture, made it an easy decision for him, he said. He's less concerned with being in a place where he can play every snap and more concerned with being in a place that can turn him into a really productive player.

In the process, the Lions are getting a four-core special teamer with experience playing some defense who can provide depth at linebacker.