The Detroit Lions faced a gap at the linebacker position this offseason following the release of Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a standout special teams player. To address this need, the Lions signed former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard, who brings both defensive depth and special teams expertise, potentially filling Reeves-Maybin’s role. The Lions officially announced the signing with a press conference, during which Stuard appeared to take subtle digs at his former team, the Colts.
Stuard shared that after joining the Lions, he received congratulatory messages from family and high school coaches, celebrating his move to a team widely viewed as a contender. He emphasized that such opportunities are rare, and Indianapolis didn’t make the cut. “I got text messages from family members, from high school coaches saying, ‘Hey, congrats on being part of a contender,’” Stuard said. “There’s only about four or five teams you can say that about confidently and objectively, and I feel like this is definitely one of those places.”
Stuard also highlighted what drew him to Detroit, seemingly contrasting the Lions’ culture with that of the Colts. “[Detroit] is a place that I think is open to innovation, open to playing the guys who deserve to play, open to putting the best guys on the field and being very transparent about everything,” he explained. He further praised the Lions’ authenticity, noting the presence of former players on the coaching staff who understand the game from a player’s perspective.
While Stuard’s comments subtly cast the Colts in a less favorable light, they also underscore the unique culture the Lions have built under head coach Dan Campbell. Not many teams operate with the same level of transparency and player-focused innovation as Detroit, making the Lions an attractive destination for free agents like Stuard. As the Lions continue to build on their recent success, Stuard’s addition could prove to be a valuable piece of the puzzle—both on defense and special teams.
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