Alex Anzalone

Alex Anzalone ( , born September 22, 1994) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators. Anzalone was selected in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 NFL draft.

College career Anzalone originally committed to Ohio State and Notre Dame but chose to play college football at University of Florida from 2013 to 2016.

During the four-year span, he missed 20 games due to injuries with his only full season being the 2014 season as the backup linebacker. He played ten games in 2013, two games in 2015, and seven games in 2016. He forewent his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2017 NFL draft.

Professional career

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints selected Anzalone in the third round (76th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the tenth linebacker selected in 2017. On June 2, 2017, the Saints signed Anzalone to a four-year, $3.46 million contract that included a signing bonus of $864,592.

Anzalone earned a starting outside linebacker job for the Saints as a rookie, starting all four games in which he played. In Week 4 against the Dolphins, he suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 4, 2017.

He played in all 16 games, starting seven, in the 2018 season. He finished with two sacks, 59 total tackles (45 solo), one interception, two passes defended, and three forced fumbles. Anzalone was placed on injured reserve on September 16, 2019. In the 2019 season, he appeared in two games and had one sack. In the 2020 season, he appeared in 16 games and started nine. He finished with 41 total tackles (22 solo).

Detroit Lions Anzalone signed with the Detroit Lions on March 24, 2021. He entered the 2021 season as a starting linebacker. He started the first 14 games before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 15. He was placed on injured reserve on December 20. In the 2021 season, he appeared in and started 14 games. He finished with one sack, 78 total tackles (49 solo), one interception, and seven passes defended.

In March 2022, Anzalone re-signed with the Lions. In the 2022 season, he started in all 17 games. He finished with 1.5 sacks, 125 total tackles (77 solo), one interception, six passes defended, and one fumble recovery.

On March 13, 2023, Anzalone signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract extension with the Lions. In the 2023 season, Anzalone finished with three sacks, 129 total tackles (85 solo), six passes defended, and one fumble recovery in 16 games and starts. In his third season with the Lions, Anzalone was selected as a 2024 NFL Pro Bowl alternate.

In the 2024 season Anzalone suffered a broken left forearm in the Week 11's 52-6 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expected to miss 6-8 weeks due to the injury, he was placed on injured reserve on November 18 with hopes of returning in the post-season. Prior to the injury, Anzalone totaled 56 stops, including seven tackles for loss, and four pass deflections. He was activated for the regular season finale on January 4, 2025.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers On March 12, 2026, Anzalone signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD 2017 NO 4 4 16 11 5 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2018 NO 16 7 59 45 14 2.0 3 1 2 2.0 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 2019 NO 2 0 7 7 0 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020 NO 16 9 41 22 19 0.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2021 DET 14 14 78 49 29 1.0 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 2022 DET 17 17 125 77 48 1.5 7 1 4 4.0 4 0 6 0 0 1 0 0 2023 DET 16 16 129 85 44 3.0 7 0 0 0.0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 0 2024 DET 10 10 63 43 20 1.0 7 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2025 DET 16 16 95 52 43 2.5 4 1 14 14.0 14 0 9 0 0 0 0 0Career 111 93 613 391 222 13.0 34 4 20 5.0 14 0 36 3 0 2 0 0

Postseason Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD 2018 NO 2 1 3 1 2 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020 NO 2 2 9 5 4 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2023 DET 3 3 23 19 4 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2024 DET 1 1 13 12 1 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Career 8 7 48 37 11 0.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life Anzalone is of Italian descent, and was born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Anzalone is a Christian. He is married to Lindsey Anzalone, who is also a Christian.