Jalen Reeves-Maybin is back in the NFL — but not with the team that drafted him. The longtime Detroit Lions linebacker has joined a division foe, signing with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad on Tuesday.
The move links Reeves-Maybin with a familiar face. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson previously served as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, and the two overlapped with the Lions during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Under Johnson, Chicago has surged to a 7-3 record and currently sits atop the NFC North heading into Week 12.
Detroit will see Reeves-Maybin and Johnson again before the season is over. The Lions close out their regular-season schedule with a trip to Chicago in Week 18.
Aside from a brief stint in Houston, Reeves-Maybin has spent nearly his entire NFL career with Detroit. The Lions drafted the 30-year-old in the fourth round in 2017, and he quickly became a core special teams contributor. In 2021, he earned his first extended defensive opportunity, starting 11 games before signing with the Texans in free agency the following offseason. Houston released him in 2023, paving the way for his return to Detroit.
Reeves-Maybin delivered his best pro season in 2023, earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro recognition for his standout special teams work. That year he tallied 20 total tackles, a sack, two pass breakups, two QB hits, and a tackle for loss across 17 games. In 2024, he added 14 tackles and a forced fumble.
The Lions valued Reeves-Maybin’s leadership as much as his on-field play — he was voted special teams captain in both 2023 and 2024. Even so, Detroit elected to move on last offseason, reportedly to free up salary cap space.
During his rookie year in 2017, Reeves-Maybin played 264 snaps on special teams and another 239 on defense. He kept a heavy special teams role for several seasons before becoming a defensive regular in Dan Campbell’s first year as head coach. In 2021, he logged 616 defensive snaps alongside 120 on special teams. His departure in 2022 came after signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Houston.
Last season, he played 210 special teams snaps and 159 defensive snaps for the Lions.
Lions Still in the Hunt, but Facing Pressure
Detroit remains a top-tier team talent-wise, yet the results have faltered lately. The Lions have dropped three of their last five contests, slipping to third place in the NFC North as the Bears have surged with a 7-1 run after starting 0-2.
The Lions dominated Chicago 52-21 back in Week 2, but that early-season blowout may not reflect what awaits in the season finale — especially with Detroit struggling outdoors in 2025. They are 3-3 in outdoor games this season, and their Week 18 matchup at Soldier Field is their only remaining game exposed to the elements.
Before the rematch with Chicago, Detroit will navigate several crucial games that could shape the NFC playoff picture. Their next test against a current postseason contender arrives on Thanksgiving, when the Lions host another division rival, the Green Bay Packers.
