Former Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone says Dan Campbell wanted him back

Alex Anzalone was one of the Detroit Lions' top free agents entering this offseason.

There was hope that Anzalone would return and continue to bolster the Lions' group of linebackers alongside Butkus Award-winning and first-team All-Pro Jack Campbell. But, ultimately, Anzalone wound up as a cap casualty for the Lions.

Anzalone signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. Earlier this week, Anzalone sat down with NFL insider Jordan Schultz for an exclusive interview where he mentioned that Lions head coach Dan Campbell wanted him back in Detroit.

Anzalone said the contract that the organization offered didn't reflect Campbell's interest in an Anzalone return, though.

"It didn't come back to like, 'You weren't playing well.' It didn't come back to Dan saying, 'Yeah, we want to move on.' Dan told me he wanted me back.

"It literally just came down to finances and what they could and couldn't afford. That's the nature of the beast. It's the business, and their front office made decisions of where they want to invest money and it wasn't in me and, you know, it is what it is," Anzalone said.

Anzalone played in and started 73 games for the Lions across five seasons from 2021-25, totaling 490 tackles, 33 passes defended, 32 quarterback hits, 26 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Anzalone signed with the Bucs on a two-year, $17 million contract with $12 million in guaranteed money.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Former Detroit Lions LB Alex Anzalone says Dan Campbell wanted him back