Alex Anzalone
refer to caption
Anzalone with the Lions in 2022
No. 34 – Detroit Lions
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-09-22) September 22, 1994 (age 29)
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Wyomissing Area
College:Florida
NFL Draft:2017 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2023
Total tackles:446
Sacks:9.5
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:3
Pass deflections:22
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Alex Anzalone (born September 22, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida.[1][2][3][4] He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

College career

Anzalone played college football at Florida from 2013 to 2016.[5]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		241 lb
(109 kg) 		32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.62 s 1.59 s 2.69 s 4.25 s 6.88 s 30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 16 reps
All values from NFL Combine[6]

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints selected Anzalone in the third round (76th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[7] He was the tenth linebacker selected in 2017.[8] On June 2, 2017, the Saints signed Anzalone to a four-year, $3.46 million contract that included a signing bonus of $864,592.[9]

Anzalone earned a starting outside linebacker job for the Saints as a rookie, starting all four games in which he played. In Week 4 against the Dolphins, he suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 4, 2017.[10]

After playing in all 16 games in the 2018 season, Anzalone was placed on injured reserve on September 16, 2019.[11]

Detroit Lions

Anzalone signed with the Detroit Lions on March 24, 2021.[12] He entered the 2021 season as a starting linebacker. He started the first 14 games before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 15. He was placed on injured reserve on December 20.[13]

In March, 2022, Anzalone re-signed with the Lions.[14]

On March 13, 2023, Anzalone signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract extension with the Lions.[15]

In his third season with the Lions, Anzalone was selected as a 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Alternate.

Personal life

Born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Anzalone is of Italian descent.[16]

References

  1. ^ "2017 NFL Draft: Florida Gatorso LB Alex Anzalone an option for Dolphins".
  2. ^ "Reintroducing five-star Alex Anzalone, Florida's tenacious defensive supernova". CBSSports.com.
  3. ^ Erickson, Joel A. "Florida's Alex Anzalone has the tools to fit NFL's new linebacker template if he can stay healthy".
  4. ^ "Florida's Alex Anzalone is back and ready to show who he really is in 2016". ESPN.com. August 24, 2016.
  5. ^ "Alex Anzalone - Football". Florida Gators.
  6. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Alex Anzalone". NFL.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "New Orleans Saints pick LB Alex Anzalone in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft". NewOrleansSaints.com. April 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "Spotrac.com: Alex Anzalone contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. ^ Erickson, Joel A. (October 4, 2017). "New Orleans Saints lose rookie linebacker Alex Anzalone to injured reserve". TheAdvocate.com.
  11. ^ Williams, Charean (September 16, 2019). "Saints place Alex Anzalone on injured reserve". profootballtalk.com. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Lions sign LB Alex Anzalone and WR Damion Ratley". DetroitLions.com. March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lions lose LB Alex Anzalone for the season with shoulder injury". DetroitNews.com. December 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lions re-sign LB Alex Anzalone, S Jalen Elliott, LB Shaun Dion Hamilton and S C.J. Moore". DetroitLions.com. March 14, 2022.
  15. ^ "Report: Alex Anzalone agrees to three-year, $18.75 million deal to return to Lions". NBCSports.com. March 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "Why NFL players are wearing flags on their helmets to promote 'International Diversity' during Week 7-8 games | Sporting News Canada". www.sportingnews.com. October 22, 2023.

External links

New Orleans Saints 2017 NFL draft selections
Detroit Lions roster
Categories