By Blessing 
How Is This Former Lions All-Pro Still Jobless? The League Might Be Sleeping on a Leader
Sometimes, invitations get lost in the mail… but this one feels personal.
Not long ago, Jalen Reeves-Maybin was a cornerstone of the Detroit Lions’ special teams unit—so good, in fact, that he earned second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod just two seasons back. He was electric in his role, tying for the league lead in special teams tackles and serving as the engine behind Detroit’s bold fake punts. Whether he was running, throwing, or simply setting the tone, Reeves-Maybin was everywhere.
But his impact extended well beyond the stat sheet. Teammates voted him a captain, and the league’s players elected him NFLPA President in 2024—a title that speaks volumes about the respect he commands. And yet, here we are in 2025, and Reeves-Maybin is sitting at home, unsigned, without even a training camp invite.
So what gives?
Over his eight-year NFL journey—seven seasons with the Lions and one with the Texans—Reeves-Maybin has racked up 221 total tackles. Most of that production came on special teams, where he truly shined. But his career as a full-time linebacker never quite took off. And after an injury-plagued 2024 season that saw him miss seven games with a neck issue, Detroit made the difficult decision to move on.
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General manager Brad Holmes released Reeves-Maybin in a move that saved the team about $2 million in cap space. Given the team’s deep linebacker room, featuring names like Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez, it wasn’t a shock. Add fringe players like Grant Stuard and Trevor Nowaske, and the position group starts to feel overcrowded.
Even so, it’s hard to understand why Reeves-Maybin hasn’t gotten a second look—especially with teams constantly searching for gritty, high-effort players to fill out their special teams units. He’s just two years removed from being considered one of the best in that role across the NFL.
Sure, the neck injury could be causing hesitation. But he did return for the final three games last season, proving he could still suit up. And let’s not forget—he knows the Lions’ system inside out, and his former linebackers coach has since been promoted to defensive coordinator. There’s continuity there that should matter.
It’s not like the Lions are strapped for cash either. They’re sitting on over $40 million in cap space. If Reeves-Maybin’s health checks out, bringing him back on a veteran deal wouldn’t break the bank—or the depth chart.
Still, whether Detroit comes calling again or not, it’s baffling that no team has taken a chance on a proven veteran like him. Leaders with this kind of experience, work ethic, and locker room presence are rare. And when they also happen to be elite special teamers? That’s usually a no-brainer.
Right now, Reeves-Maybin is one of the most overlooked free agents on the market. His absence from any training camp roster makes little sense.
At the very least, he deserves a shot to prove he still has gas in the tank. Because based on what we’ve seen over the past few years, there’s absolutely no excuse for him not to be in an NFL camp this summer.