The Lions continue to fortify their linebacker room by agreeing to re-sign LB Anthony Pittman.
The Detroit Lions continue to fortify their linebacker room before the start of free agency. Just hours after reports broke that the Lions are re-signing linebacker Derrick Barnes to a three-year extension, ESPN is reporting that Detroit has agreed to bring back Anthony Pittman on a one-year deal. No further terms have been revealed at the moment.
UPDATE: Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the deal isn’t quite done yet, but it’s “just a matter of time.” Pittman was a restricted free agent, but this deal is not expected to be an RFA tender.
It’s no surprise to see Pittman return to the Lions. A Detroit native, PIttman started his career with the Lions back in 2019. He proceeded to stay with Detroit until signing with the Washington Commanders during last year’s free agency, hoping to find a chance to crack their defensive lineup. Unfortunately for Pittman, he was waived at cutdowns from the Commanders. He eventually signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, but he was able to return to the Lions when Detroit poached him this past December.
“It was awesome coming back to Detroit. I love Detroit,” Pittman told Pride of Detroit in January. “I love the team and staff. Now I’m playing against Washington, so it’s kinda unreal, but I’m grateful for how the journey went. It’s crazy.”
Pittman has been a four-phase special teamer for most of his career. He played over 350 special teams snaps for the Lions in each of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons.
“He’s a great player, he’s a total pro, he’s totally committed to this game, he’s come a long way, we got to see him grow up and develop,” special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said in December. “When I got here, I think he was on the practice squad the year before but never played in a game, so we got to see him play his first game, play his first snaps, end up making a lot of plays and being a very valuable player for us.
“And then, to see him come—and I told you guys, he took a chance and he bet on himself, and he wanted to go out there and see if he could end up being a positional player, Washington gave him that opportunity and he went for it, which I totally credit the kid, I love him more for it. So, he took a chance on himself, it didn’t end up working out, and then it ended up working out that we got him back here and he gets to play again for us, so I’m excited for that.”
The Lions now have seven linebackers under contract for 2025: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Barnes, Pittman, Abraham Beauplan, and DaRon Gilbert.
Catch up on all the latest Lions free agency news by heading to our 2025 Detroit Lions offseason tracker.
