After five games into his season, questions arose about Aidan Hutchinson’s status for Super Bowl 59.
While he’s available, it’s not in the way he or the Detroit Lions had hoped.
The third-year defensive end appeared on The Pat McAfee Show Thursday, which is being broadcast from New Orleans, the location of this season’s Super Bowl.
This marks one of Hutchinson’s few public appearances since breaking his tibia and fibula in Week 6 during a win against the Dallas Cowboys.
His absence was notably felt throughout the season, particularly in the Lions’ divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders, where their defense struggled to apply pressure and disrupt rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
“Despite the pain, being ripped out of that season and knowing what I could have done and what could have been—that’s what I have the hardest time with,” Hutchinson said. “But then again, I’m going into Year Four next year, so I’m young, and I got a lot of good football left.”
Even though he missed the final 12 games of the regular season, Hutchinson — who was on track to win Defensive Player of the Year before his injury — still led the Lions in sacks with 7.5.
A major factor in Hutchinson’s success up until that point was his own ability and the guidance of his former defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn.
Glenn, who left Detroit to become the head coach of the New York Jets, was praised by Hutchinson, who detailed their close connection.
“He’s so great. I mean, me and AG — our relationship has developed so much over the three years that I was with him, and I feel like with AG, he knew what to say at the right time,” Hutchinson said. “Every time, every message — whether it was a win or a loss — he was on point. I feel like there was never anything he said where I thought, ‘Oh, maybe you shouldn’t have said that.’
“Sometimes coaches say things, and you’re like, ‘Eh, I don’t know if that was the message.’ But I feel like every time he said something, it was right. So, him being a head coach — I think he’s going to be a really good head coach.”
Looking ahead to his fourth season in Detroit, Hutchinson shared that staying around the 260-pound range while increasing his strength, both physically and mentally, is a major focus.
“I just learned so much new stuff every year that it’s the mind that develops, and that’s what makes you the better player,” Hutchinson said.
Reflecting on his injury, Hutchinson initially mentioned it was a horrific video he chose not to watch, but later admitted that he did view it — although seeing his body contort that way was hard to stomach.
In the end, he summed it all up with a statement that highlights his competitive nature and why he was ready to play in Super Bowl 59 if the Lions had made it.
“I still got the sack,” Hutchinson joked. “Hey, if that’s a way to go out, yeah, I’ll take it.”
