Cary Conklin enters his 22nd season in the NFL in 2026, and his 18th season with the Lions.

Cary Conklin enters his 22nd season in the NFL in 2026, and his 18th season with the Lions. Prior to the Lions, Conklin was a college scout for both the St. Louis Rams and the then-Washington Redskins. Conklin has also spent five years as a college coach working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers at the University of Washington and Eastern Michigan University.

He was a fourth-round draft pick by Washington and was tutored by Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. Conklin played for Washington from 1990-1994 and for the San Francisco 49ers in 1995. He was a 1992 Super Bowl Championship team member who defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI.

Conklin set numerous passing records for the University of Washington Huskies in college and was the MVP of the 1989 Freedom Bowl when Washington beat Florida 34-7. He is from Yakima, Wash., and attended Eisenhower High School.

Conklin is married to his wife, Demetra, and together they have two daughters, Cosette and Violet, and a son, Canon.