It's indeed a bittersweet feeling for Alex Anzalone to part ways with the Detroit Lions after five long seasons. Before the linebacker suits up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he experienced a lighthearted moment involving his son and Lions' Aidan Hutchinson. It's the same incident that left the defensive end emotional.

While interacting with NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Anzalone shared about the sweet goodbye moment between his son Cooper and  Hutchinson while they were out golfing in Tampa.  

“I didn't tell Cooper this at all. But he went up to Aiden and was like, 'Mr. Aidan, I'm going to miss you so much.' And gave him a hug,” Anzalone recalled. "He [Hutchinson] probably teared up. He texted me saying he d*** near cried."

Anzalone's son must be only five years old. However, he is aware of the bond that his dad shares with Hutchinson. While the linebacker signed up with the Lions a year earlier than Hutchinson, they have been on the same team for the past four years. So much so, they now spend time away from the gridiron, too.

There’s clearly still plenty of love between Alex and his former teammates, especially considering some of the best years of his career came in Detroit. Still, as tough as it is for a free agent to uproot his family, that’s simply part of doing business in the NFL.

Even though the little Cooper will miss his dad's teammate, he has already fully switched allegiances from the Lions to the Bucs.

“When we first got to the golf course, Cooper ran up to Aiden and was like, 'Go Bucks.' Shooting daggers in the heart,” Anzalone said. "'Daddy, the Lions didn't want you anymore. We're with the Bucs now. We're good.'"

Clearly, Cooper remains a Lion at heart, but he has accepted the Bucs as his new favorite.

Alex Anzalone Experience and Impact Potential With Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Anzalone’s roots run deep in the South. The Pennsylvania native made his mark at Florida from 2013 to 2016 before spending his first four NFL seasons with the Saints. NFL Insider Matt Bowen was correct when he predicted that Tampa Bay would sign Anzalone.

“The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with LB Alex Anzalone on a two-year, $17 million deal,” reported NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on X. “Thor heads to Tampa … He turned down more money elsewhere to join the Bucs.”

The amount of high production and volume is what the Buccaneers are looking for. With the retirement of franchise legend Lavonte David, the Bucs were looking for a linebacker to play alongside SirVocea Dennis.

He offers strong value in coverage and serves as a veteran presence that the defense needs. It is also evident from his Pro Football Focus grade of 67.5 that Anzalone has a lot to offer in the field. 

Will Anzalone be able to make his son proud in Tampa Bay? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar