In a candid recent appearance, the former All-Pro defensive tackle opened up about his contract history with the Lions — and made one thing clear: he believes he should’ve been the highest-paid player on the team. That includes then-franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Suh said that despite his impact on the field and the attention he brought to Detroit’s defense, the Lions didn’t value him at the level he felt he earned. “I should have been paid more than Stafford,” Suh stated bluntly.
During his time with the Lions from 2010 to 2014, Suh racked up Pro Bowl honors and became one of the most feared defenders in the league. Yet Stafford — as the face of the offense — secured the long-term deal Suh feels should have gone to him.
Although Suh eventually signed a massive contract with the Miami Dolphins, his comments shed light on the tension that sometimes exists between a team’s most visible player and its most valuable one — and who gets rewarded when the spotlight hits.
Suh remains proud of what he accomplished in Detroit, but don’t expect him to sugarcoat his legacy. As far as he’s concerned, he was the biggest star in town — even if his paycheck didn’t show it.
Suh Claims He Was the Star — Not Stafford — and Should’ve Been Paid Like It
