It is official now, GM Brad Holmes is keeping the Detroit Lions' All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell, as on May 21, 2026, the Motor City team has finalized his first rookie extension keeping him in the Lions through the 2030 NFL season, per detroitlions.com.

How Much Is Jack Campbell's Contract Worth?

When the Lions first drafted the 25-year-old linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft, he signed a four-year rookie contract worth $14.7M. Now the Motor City team has extended that contract. 

While there's no official confirmation from Hutchinson's or the Lions' side, Ian Rapport has reported the new contract's worth. 

“The #Lions and Pro Bowl LB Jack Campbell agreed to terms on a 4-year, $81M contract extension, sources say. He gets $20.25M per year with $51.5M guaranteed,” he posted on X.

With the latest updates around his first rookie contract extension, as reported by Ian Rapoport. Now Campbell is set to earn $81M under a four-year contract, going through the 2030 NFL season.

The contract includes a total GTD of $51.5M with an average salary of $20.25M, which is just below that of Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers at $21M on a three-year contract. 

The contract extension comes after the Lions previously turned down the idea of extending his stay. They previously denied him the fifth-year option, which was worth $21.925M.

This would have made him the highest-paying linebacker in the league.

GM Brad Holmes has mentioned earlier that he would do everything possible to retain the core talent of the Detroit Lions. 

But during free agency, the Lions were suffering from a financial crunch that was not hidden from the NFL community. 

Post the 2026 NFL free agency, the chatter around Campbell’s extension was at its peak. 

But, making it clear, the Lions clarified that there would be no fifth-year extension because it would cost them more than a long-term deal with Campbell.

Under the franchise tag, it would potentially cost the Lions nearly $22M, per the Detroit Free Press. But the Lions linebacker is not far away from history.

Did Jack Campbell Just Become the NFL’s Highest-Paid Linebacker?

He did not. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is currently playing under a 3-year, $63 million contract extension signed in 2025, which keeps him with the team through 2029.

This includes including $16.39M signing bonus, $56.7M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $21M. 

As for Campbell, he now has an average annual salary of $20.25M. Though he broke the record of Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens, who signed a $100M deal for a five-year contract, making $20M each season. 

Now the terms are out in public, making LB Jack Campbell the second-highest-paid linebacker in the franchise. 

GM Brad Holmes kept his word, he has retained his star linebacker Campbell to undo their mistakes, by which they missed the 2025 NFL playoffs with a 9-8 record.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker