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Devin White, the newly acquired linebacker for the Detroit Lions, made it clear he had no interest in joining a franchise in the midst of a rebuild. The 28-year-old, who secured a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in his career, spent the 2025 season with a Las Vegas Raiders squad that managed just three victories.
After several discussions with Detroit during the offseason, White decided to sign with a team that now enters each campaign with legitimate Super Bowl ambitions. Following his first practice with the Lions on Sunday morning, White expressed his enthusiasm about the squad's approach.
"They've got all the attributes, and they're doing all the right things. I think that's one good thing that I've seen on the first day of practice for me, is just we were situation-aware," White remarked. "That's really, really good. And, obviously, hard work pays off at the end of the day. That's what this team is about. I asked a couple of guys, 'What's the standard around here?' And it's like, 'Man, all out, all out.' So, I think I fit right in."
White's arrival was prompted by an injury to rookie Jimmy Rolder, which gave general manager Brad Holmes extra incentive to bring in a seasoned player who ranked third in the league in tackles last season. White believes that many other NFL teams are far from contention, whereas Detroit remains firmly within its Super Bowl window.
"I feel like just jumping out there head first and putting myself back in the position I was in last year," White explained. "A lot of other teams, they're probably a lot of pieces away from getting to even the postseason, and I really didn't want to deal with that. I want to go in and be able to help a team that really wants to win right now."
Key Analysis
The Lions' coaching staff, which features numerous former NFL players, was a significant draw for White, who is always looking to refine his skills. "I think this was the right fit for me being around some ball-coaches who actually played the game, can actually get out there, hands on with you, and lets keep improving," White said. "Whatever they think I can improve in, they can actually get out there and coach me, because they did it before. So, they know exactly what they're looking for."
For ongoing Detroit Lions coverage and insider NFL analysis, fans can follow the team on X at @detroitpodcast, like the Facebook page, follow on TikTok, and subscribe to the Detroit Lions On SI Lone Wolves YouTube Channel for daily videos and member-exclusive content. John Maakaron, who has covered Detroit sports since 2013, brings extensive experience with the Tigers, Lions, Wolverines, Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland Golden Grizzlies. He founded the Detroit Sports Podcast Network in 2013, has recorded over 3,000 podcasts, and partnered with Sports Illustrated Media Group in 2019 to provide daily Lions content.