ALLEN PARK — Jalen Reeves-Maybin is happy to stay in Detroit with his Detroit Lions contract extended through the 2025 season.
The linebacker/special teamer signed a two–year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Lions on Feb. 26. The deal made Reeves-Maybin the highest paid core special teamer in the NFL.
“It definitely means a lot, I’ve spent so many years of my life here now, it’s starting to feel like home, raising my family here, it is definitely great not to have to move,’’ Reeves-Maybin said at a Thursday press conference.
Last season Reeves-Maybin played in all 17 games. A special teams standout, he also got key reps at linebacker. He helped get the 2023 season off to a great start by converting a first down on a fake punt in the first quarter of the 2023 regular season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in which the Lions pulled off the upset.
It’s different for Reeves-Maybin — and all the Lions — with expectations so high for the 2024 season.
“I think it’s definitely a different vibe. You can feel it walking around the city,’’ Reeves-Maybin said. “I think it’ll be fun once everybody gets back to see our approach to every day, kind of keeping the standard high. I feel like we’ve always had a high standard but feel it’s going to be more this year. I’m definitely excited for it.’’
Reeves-Maybin, 29, was recently elected as the president of the NFL Players Association. He credits former teammate Don Muhlbach for getting him interested in the union.
“Over the years it kind of grew to listening, to speaking up more. The previous two years I’ve been on the executive committee so I’ve been able to see things on a deeper level,’’ Reeves-Maybin said.
He was originally drafted by the Lions in the fourth round in 2017. He left Detroit to play for the Texans for the 2022 season and was released in March 2023. He immediately re-signed with Detroit.
Reeves-Maybin was the NFC’s only special teams representative in February’s Pro Bowl.
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