Alex Anzalone is stirring the pot in Detroit. The former Lions linebacker claims coach Dan Campbell wanted him back for 2026. According to Anzalone, the front office had different financial plans, creating a divide that has fans talking.

On the Jordan Shultz Report, NFL insider Shultz hosted former Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, where the veteran revealed that the head coach, Dan Campbell, and the front office GM Brad Holmes were not on the same page about his stay for the 2026 NFL season.  

"...It didn't come back to Dan (Campbell) saying 'yeah, we wanna move on.' Dan had told me he wanted me back," Anzalone said. "It literally just came down to finances, and what they could and couldn't afford...The front office made decisions of where they wanna invest money, it wasn't in me, and it is what it is."

According to Spotrac, Anzalone landed a three-year contract at about $18 million with the Lions in 2023. That deal expired this March.

Soon, for the 2026 NFL season, things changed. Spotrac projects that Anzalone’s market value would be around $15.2 million over a span of a two-year contract ($7.6 million annually).

Due to the financial crunch, the Lions were not able to match the projected price. 

That's when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snatched the opportunity and signed him for a 2-year contract at $17 million.

Similar scenarios also involved Taylor Decker and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

"It's hard to lose guys like Alex... but that's the nature of the beast. That's kind of where we're at in the next phase of this," Campbell said

Ultimately, Alex Anzalone was not alone in facing Detroit’s financial squeeze. Taylor Decker reportedly walked away after refusing a steep pay cut, while Al-Quadin Muhammad followed suit despite coming off a career-best season on a prove-it deal the Detroit Lions simply could not stretch to match

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, the front office had other plans, and the fans were not happy about any of this.

Dan Campbell Claim by Alex Anzalone Draws Mixed Reactions From Lions Fans

The moment the claim involving Dan Campbell hit the surface, the reaction from fans followed instantly, and it didn’t land the way Alex Anzalone might have expected.

The fans were not able to digest the fact that the two most important elements of the team they are supporting are not aligned. 

One fan read between the lines and didn’t like what it suggested.

“So, he's saying Campbell and Holmes aren't on the same page? Concerning,” the user said.

Another wasn’t interested in revisiting the situation at all, brushing it off.

"Most tired story of the offseason. Move. On,” the comment read, referencing other similar departures.

While what happened couldn't be changed, some appreciated him for what he brought during his time in Detroit.

“Bummer you were well-liked while here by the fan base! Thank you!” a message read.

But not all reactions held back. Some responses were blunt and direct, reflecting frustration with how the situation is playing out.

“Is this clown going to whine like a b**** daily now?” one fan wrote.

At the end of the day, most fans seemed to agree that the player had quality, but the circumstances around an extension certainly complicated matters.

Read more at the Detroit Lions Community!

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote