With the departure of Jalen Reeves-Maybin, the Detroit Lions found themselves needing reinforcements at the linebacker position. Reeves-Maybin, known for his contributions on special teams, was released earlier in the offseason, leaving a gap that needed to be addressed.
To fill that void, the Lions brought in former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard. Beyond adding depth to their defense, Stuard is expected to be a key asset on special teams, potentially stepping into the role left vacant by Reeves-Maybin.
The team recently made the signing official with a press conference introducing their new acquisition. During the event, Stuard made remarks that seemed to take indirect shots at the Colts.
He shared that after signing with Detroit, he received messages from friends, family, and former coaches, all congratulating him not just on the deal but on joining a legitimate contender. The linebacker pointed out that there are only a handful of teams in the league that fit that description—implying that Indianapolis isn’t one of them.
“I got text messages from family members, from high school coaches and stuff saying like, ‘Hey, congrats on being part of a contender,’ and I think that’s the way it’s widely seen,” Stuard stated. “There’s only about four or five teams you can say that about confidently and objectively, and I feel like this is definitely one of those places.”
Stuard also elaborated on why he chose Detroit, and in doing so, he seemed to highlight perceived shortcomings within his previous team’s organization.
“[Detroit] is a place that I think is open to innovation, open to playing the guys who deserve to play, open to putting the best guys on the field and being very transparent about everything,” he remarked.
He went on to praise the Lions’ coaching staff, emphasizing the authenticity he sees within the organization.
“It’s very hard to find a building full of authenticity from the head coach to the coordinators, and having a lot of former players (on Detroit’s staff), they seem to understand that as well,” he added.
While Stuard didn’t directly criticize the Colts, his comments strongly suggested that Indianapolis lacks some of the attributes he appreciates in Detroit. If nothing else, his words reinforce the perception that the Lions have built a unique and player-friendly culture—one that not every franchise can replicate.
