Notes: Lions LB Alex Anzalone wants to leave a legacy in Detroit

Lions’ linebacker Alex Anzalone explains why leaving a legacy in Detroit was a big reason he hasn’t left.

Back when he got here in 2021, there was a good understanding of what Detroit Lions’ linebacker Alex Anzalone’s role would be with the team—at least early on. Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell had just begun with their rebuild, and adding Anzalone made a lot of sense for several reasons.

Anzalone, who was just 27 years old at that point in time, was expected to be a leader for a Lions team that was going to take its lumps over the next year and a half. He had spent four years with Campbell during their time with the New Orleans Saints, so the familiarity was there.

However, his role in Detroit was going to be different than what the Saints had him doing. Rather than be a situational player that was on the field for certain downs, he was going to be someone that rarely left the field for Detroit.

Fast forward to now and it is much easier to understand the vision the Lions had for him once their roster was more built up. Now three years into his time in Detroit, Anzalone believes he and the Lions are on the cusp of something really special.

“There’s not many places in the league where you can leave like a real legacy,” said Anzalone during his appearance on the ‘Not for Long Media’ show hosted by former University of Florida teammate Colin Thompson. “In Detroit, obviously, they struggled for a while. It’s somewhere you can legitimately have a legacy and always go back to, and be proud of your time there. Depending on what we do and what we’ve done in the past.”

In the episode, he reveals he had a couple opportunities to leave in free agency during his time in Detroit, but this pull to make a legendary impact on the city has kept him here.

You can watch the entirety of the episode with Anzalone here.

And now, onto the rest of today’s notes:

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press lays out the blueprint on how the city of Detroit and the Lions successfully secured their bid for the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Looking for a full breakdown of the events that will take place in downtown Detroit for draft weekend? The staff at ESPN have you covered.

• NFL Network analysts Daniel Jeremiah believes the Lions are ‘Knocking on the door” of a Super Bowl, and are a candidate to trade up in this year’s draft. Dave Birkett has the story.

• The Lions admin must be watching Shogun on FX.

• If you didn’t already know, the best offensive tackle in the league and his wife Isabelle welcomed their second child into the world.

• You all are sick and I love you.