By Sunday 
It’s not every day that a rising NFL star like Aidan Hutchinson gets career advice from someone who’s walked the walk — and done it in the same maize and blue. But that’s exactly what happened this week, as former NFL lineman and Michigan alum Jon Jansen weighed in on Hutchinson’s contract situation on the airwaves.
Contract Talks Are Cooling Off — For Now
Let’s rewind a bit. Hutchinson is coming off a major leg injury that knocked him out of most of last season. The injury—a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg—was a massive blow to a campaign that had “Defensive Player of the Year” written all over it. He’s since been medically cleared and is back in OTAs, with fans (and probably the front office) waiting to see how he holds up when the pads come on in training camp.
Now, Hutchinson is extension-eligible. With the edge rusher market surging — Myles Garrett just cracked the $40 million per year mark, and T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons are about to reset the market again — the timing is right… kind of.
But here’s the thing: no deal has materialized yet.
Jansen Says: Chill
Enter Jon Jansen, a fellow Michigan Man, longtime NFL vet, and current radio co-host of “Costa and Jansen” on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. When asked what advice he’d give Hutchinson regarding the stalled extension, Jansen didn’t suggest holding out, going public, or pushing for headlines.
Instead, he played it cool — the same way Hutchinson probably should.
Jansen’s message was clear: Don’t rush it. Let your game do the talking. Let the front office see that not only are you fully recovered, but that you’re still that same dominant presence who causes offensive coordinators sleepless nights. And when you do that? The bag will be waiting.
Betting on Himself
There’s a quiet confidence in what Jansen suggests. Hutchinson is already under contract through 2026 thanks to the fifth-year option the Lions picked up — so there’s no real panic from either side. But the longer he plays without a new deal, the more leverage he has — assuming he continues to perform at a Pro Bowl (or higher) level.
The risk? Injuries or a step back post-rehab. But Hutchinson has never been short on confidence — and the Lions believe in him too. This feels like a mutual slow play, which might not be flashy, but often leads to long-term rewards.
Final Thoughts
Not every athlete is open to advice, especially when money is on the line. But coming from someone like Jansen — who’s played the game, wore the same college colors, and understands Detroit’s football landscape — it hits differently.
So yeah, the bag may not be in Hutchinson’s hands yet.
But if he keeps playing like that guy?
It’ll find its way there soon enough.