By Blessing 
With NFL training camps kicking into full gear, all 32 teams are set to be active by the end of the week. For the Detroit Lions, the journey started a little earlier than most. As participants in this year’s Hall of Fame Game, they hit the ground running with players reporting by July 19 — a full week ahead of schedule.
But it’s not just the schedule that’s different this year. There’s been a shake-up on the Lions’ coaching staff, with several key figures departing. Among the most notable is former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. And word around the league is that he’s eyeing a familiar face from Detroit to bring with him to Chicago.
Meanwhile, linebacker Derrick Barnes is laser-focused on what’s happening in Detroit — and he has every reason to be. After signing a three-year, $24 million extension this offseason, Barnes is now the highest-paid linebacker on the team. But ask him what truly matters most right now, and he won’t point to his paycheck.
“The chemistry we have is insane,” Barnes told Justin Rogers. “It’s kind of weird, because we always know what we’re thinking on the field.”
That connection is shared with fellow linebackers Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone, who are entering their third consecutive season together. For Barnes, that bond goes beyond just experience — it’s instinctive. Their on-field communication has evolved to the point where words aren’t always necessary.
“Me and Jack, after a play, we’ll just look at each other and be like, ‘You see that?’ And he’ll be like, ‘Yeah, I seen that,’” Barnes said. “It’s just weird.”
Even with Anzalone missing the start of training camp due to a minor hamstring issue, the chemistry between Barnes and Campbell hasn’t skipped a beat. Their familiarity with each other has kept the linebacker group tight, focused, and synchronized.
“It’s not weird,” one might argue — it’s a natural byproduct of reps, trust, and time. That kind of bond is rare, and it’s exactly what defensive coordinators dream about. For head coach Dan Campbell and newly appointed defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, that continuity is a stabilizing force for a defense undergoing changes in the secondary and along the line.
And once Anzalone is back on the field, Barnes expects things to only get better.
“We, all three, are on the same page,” he added. “Even the other guys in the room, we’ve built a strong bond. Most of the guys in the room, I’ve been with two or three years plus. It’s amazing to have a room like that.”
It’s clear that while offseason additions on the defensive line and in the secondary have made headlines, it’s the linebacker unit that’s quietly becoming the glue holding the Lions’ defense together. Barnes, Campbell, and Anzalone represent stability, trust, and shared leadership — a foundation any contender needs.
The Lions’ front office didn’t hand Barnes a new deal just because of his production. It was a signal — that he’s become a core part of the team’s culture and future. While Campbell is still developing and Anzalone serves as the experienced voice in the room, Barnes is viewed as the emotional and strategic bridge between them.
Detroit’s defense in 2025 could be the best it’s been in years, and though names like Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch get plenty of attention, don’t sleep on the linebackers. Barnes believes their bond could be what sets the defense apart when it matters most.
In his own words: Barnes isn’t just getting a raise — he’s gaining more responsibility, and more importantly, more trust.
The chemistry that he, Campbell, and Anzalone share might just be the secret weapon behind a top-10 defense this fall.