ALLEN PARK – The last time Aidan Hutchinson lined up against the Philadelphia Eagles was during the Detroit Lions’ 2022 season opener — his very first NFL game.

Although the Lions ultimately fell 38-35 in a duel at Ford Field, Hutchinson faced an intense introduction to the league against Philadelphia’s powerhouse offensive line featuring Pro Bowlers Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson.

It was such a demanding assignment — an authentic “Welcome to the NFL” moment — that it made him think, “If every tackle is like this…” essentially making him second-guess his career choices for a brief moment.

Nearly three years later, Hutchinson — now an early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year — has grown into one of football’s most disruptive defenders, and he’s embracing the challenge this time

See Full Page