The Detroit Lions strengthened their defense by signing two veteran players, linebacker Joe Bachie and defensive lineman Jay Tufele, in their 2026 draft class. While the Lions announced the news on social media, Bachie shared a two-word message in return.

It's a homecoming for Bachie, who was a college football player at Michigan State, and he is excited about being on the team.  He shared his mindset on X. 

“Let’s work,” wrote Bachie, resharing the Detroit Lions' tweet.

Bachie started his NFL career in 2020, going undrafted out of college. Since then, he has played for a few different teams, starting with the New Orleans Saints, and then with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cincinnati Bengals, among others.

After entering the league in 2020, Bachie played in four games with the Philadelphia Eagles and finished with two tackles. While his stint in Philadelphia was limited, it opened the door to a more meaningful role with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021.

During the Bengals’ Super Bowl campaign, Bachie started two contests and recorded 30 tackles along with a pass deflection, delivering the most productive stretch of his NFL career.

Most of his impact comes from playing on special teams. He is also a great backup linebacker who can jump into the game whenever the starters need a break.

By the end of the 2025 season, Bachie had reached some solid career milestones. He has played in 66 total games and has made 77 tackles so far in his career.

Joe Bachie's Role in Detroit Lions' Linebacker Depth

Standing tall at 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds, Bachie brings a physical, downhill style of play to the linebacker position. Other than this, he holds the talent of processing plays quickly.

He attacks running lanes with force and consistently delivers the kind of effort coaches value.

Linebacker depth remains a concern for the Detroit Lions following several offseason departures. At the moment, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez are slated to start. So, Bachie will earn a backup job alongside competitors Damone Clark, Trevor Nowaske, and Jimmy Rolder.

As he has played in multiple defensive systems, it makes him an important depth option for Detroit when it comes to versatility.

Another factor that stands out is that he can take advantage of the current situation, as Bachie is already familiar with Coach Dan Campbell from his time working with him in New Orleans.

After losing Alex Anzalone and a lack of major additions at linebacker, the Detroit Lions appear to be taking a low-risk, trial-and-error approach. In that way, Bachie, considering his familiarity with the region and ability to step in when necessary, holds an edge.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar