Alex Anzalone

American football player (born 1994)

American football player
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
  • New Orleans Saints (2017–2020)
  • Detroit Lions (2021–present)
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:455
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+78 in
(1.90 m)
241 lb
(109 kg)
32+18 in
(0.82 m)
9+18 in
(0.23 m)
4.62 s 1.5993902 s 2.69 s 4.25 s 6.88 s 30+12 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

  • Florida Gators bio
  • New Orleans Saints bio
  • v
  • t
  • e
New Orleans Saints 2017 NFL draft selections
  • v
  • t
  • e
Detroit Lions roster
Active
Free agents
AFC East
BUF
MIA
NE
NYJ
North
BAL
CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
LV
LAC
NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
LAR
SF
SEA