Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alex Anzalone Forged by Grit, Built for Tampa Bay

Alex Anzalone spent five years building a winning culture in Detroit. Now, he's bringing that same edge to Tampa Bay

Aug 04, 2026 at 01:16 PM

Buccaneers.com Contributor

Training Camp is in full swing, offering an early look at what the 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers could become. The team left last season with a bitter taste in its mouth, a shot at NFC South history slipping away by just one game. Things look a bit different now at One Buc without franchise legends Mike Evans and Lavonte David out on the practice field. Regardless, the same unwavering desire remains: win.

As we all know, that is easier said than done. The front office knew they had to fill the void left by the aforementioned departures. No individual simply replaces the greatness of an Evans or a David, but the Bucs were not after a one-for-one swap. They needed someone to step in, take responsibility and bring a gameday mindset day in, day out. It just so happens they found someone with a proven track record and plenty of experience sculpting a defense in his image. Enter Alex Anzalone.

On March 12, Tampa Bay announced the signing of Anzalone on a two-year contract. Anzalone was a five-time team captain for the Detroit Lions and a cornerstone of the Motor City team's revival. Half a decade ago, new Lions General Manager Brad Holmes was tasked with raising the franchise out of the ashes, in a city that had not seen its professional football team win a playoff game since 1992. Anzalone joined the squad in 2021, becoming one of Holmes' first signings. Holmes looked to the linebacker to help establish a culture of grit and integrity and the captain got to work right away.

Under Anzalone's leadership, the Lions built themselves into one of the NFC's top contenders, winning two NFC North titles, appearing in the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and earning the conference's No. 1 seed in 2024. Anzalone had some of the best years of his career in Honolulu Blue, establishing himself as one of the best and most versatile coverage linebackers in the league. It took an immense amount of effort to lay the foundation of success for the Lions, something Anzalone takes a lot of pride in.

"I think that it took a lot," said Anzalone. "I think you know we got pieces that we needed throughout the years to get that defense going. It took a group effort from coaches down. There was just a lot of discipline and fundamentals that were put into it. I was a big part of it and I'm proud of that fact."

Anzalone started his career in New Orleans after being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida. While there, he was surrounded by a legion of culture-setters who led by example. Arriving in Detroit, he rose to the occasion, evolving into the anchor the Lions needed.

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TAMPA, FL - August 03, 2026 - Linebacker Nick Jackson #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2026 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers