Lions Leader Admits He's Devastated After Teammate's Sudden Release

The Detroit Lions are one of the best teams in the NFL heading into next season, but it hasn’t prevented them from making some difficult decisions this offseason. One of those moves was releasing linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who had a prominent role on special teams.

Reeves-Maybin spent seven of his eight seasons in Detroit and made a Pro Bowl and All-Pro team back in 2023. But after a down year, the Lions decided to get out from a two-year, $7.5 million contract signed last offseason and the departure already has one Lions leader admitting his feelings.

Lions Linebacker Alex Anzalone Has Emotional Reaction to Jalen Reeves-Maybin’s Release

Alex Anzalone took to social media and had a simple response to Reeves-Maybin’s release. Quoting the team’s X account announcing the move, Anzalone replied with a broken heart and a somber emoji, expressing his sadness over the team’s decision.

A leader of the Lions defense, it’s unlikely that Anzalone will be demanding a trade. But it’s a sign of how much Reeves-Maybin meant to the team over his time in Detroit.

Reeves-Maybin was a fourth-round pick by the Lions in the 2017 draft and his best season came in 2021 when he started 11 games and made 82 total tackles with four tackles for loss, four passes defended and two forced fumbles. His performance helped him earn a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Houston Texans but the partnership lasted just one season before he was released.

That move turned out to be a positive as Reeves-Maybin returned to Detroit. He recorded 20 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack in 17 games for the Lions but his contributions on special teams helped him make the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. That performance helped Reeves-Maybin get paid again, signing his current deal with the Lions. but a neck injury midway through last season limited him to 10 games, leading to his release.

In the end, the Lions saved $2 million by cutting Reeves-Maybin. But for a team that has grown tighter over the past two seasons, his loss stings for the players who will return next season.