What was once considered a developing position group has rapidly become the Lions’ backbone, as Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes power a defensive resurgence few saw coming.
The Detroit Lions’ defense has quietly constructed a foundation around one of the league’s most productive and well-balanced linebacker groups. Led by emerging star Jack Campbell and anchored by veterans Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes, the trio has developed into a core strength for a unit that has relied on consistency, pressure and discipline throughout the season.
Alex Anzalone
As the veteran voice of the group, Anzalone has become one of the Lions’ most valuable signings of the Dan Campbell era. Since joining Detroit in 2021, he has recorded 28 pass deflections — the third most among all NFL linebackers during that span — and tied for the second most by any Lions linebacker since at least 1994.
Last season, Anzalone continued to show he has plenty left, opening Week 1 with 10-plus tackles and three tackles for loss. It marked just the eighth time since 1994 that an NFL linebacker has produced that stat line in a season opener. In 2023, he also became the first Detroit linebacker since 2000 to deliver five or more tackles in every game.
Now 31, Anzalone has passed on the green dot to Jack Campbell while remaining one of the Lions’ most respected leaders. Named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2024, he continues to produce quietly and reliably, entering the week with 1.5 sacks and an interception. His leadership, durability and motor remain central to Detroit’s defensive identity.
Derrick Barnes
Barnes’ Lions tenure has had its defining moments, both good and bad. After being criticized for a missed sack-safety opportunity against Dallas in 2023 that turned into a 92-yard touchdown, Barnes has responded with steady improvement and several game-changing plays.
His signature moment came in the divisional round of the 2023 season, when he intercepted Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield to seal Detroit’s trip to the NFC Championship Game. This year, Barnes has elevated his game even further, producing four sacks — doubling his previous career high — while tracking toward a personal best in tackles.
He secured a measure of redemption in Week 13, intercepting Dak Prescott for a key takeaway. Barnes became the first Lions linebacker since Chris Claiborne in 2002 to produce a season with at least four sacks and an interception. While not the featured player of the unit, Barnes has delivered timely plays and dependable production throughout the year.
Jack Campbell
Campbell’s third season has marked his arrival as one of the NFL’s premier young linebackers. On pace for All-Pro consideration, Campbell has compiled 67 solo tackles, ranking fourth in the league, along with five sacks and three forced fumbles. He joined Chris Spielman as the only Lions player to record at least five sacks and 110 tackles in a season.
Wearing the green dot and orchestrating the defense, Campbell also became the first player in franchise history to post a season with at least 100 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles since tracking began in 1994. He has logged five or more tackles in 18 straight games, the third-longest streak by a Detroit linebacker since 1999.
His performance against Dallas last week underscored his breakout campaign: seven tackles, a sack that narrowly missed being ruled a safety, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble, all in the first half. Through Week 12, Campbell carried PFF’s top run-defense grade at 91.8 and was the only linebacker to rank inside the top 15 in both run defense and pass defense.
The Foundation of Detroit’s Defense
Together, Campbell, Barnes and Anzalone have combined for 143 solo tackles, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Their impact has been central to Detroit’s playoff push and defensive stability. Without their production, leadership and versatility, the Lions would be facing a far steeper climb in the postseason race.