While Tampa Bay’s 2026 draft class has generated most of the offseason buzz, especially on the defensive side of the football, the Bucs will be counting just as heavily on veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone to stabilize the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense.

Anzalone is entering his 10th NFL season, having learned and seen a lot during his stops with the Saints and Lions. Joining the Bucs in free agency, he shared with team reporter Casey Phillips why it has been a perfect fit so far and how he wants to do his part to spark a defensive turnaround.

Alex Anzalone Discusses Why Bucs Are A Perfect Fit For Family And Football

For Alex Anzalone, free agency was not just about football.

Bucs ILB Alex Anzalone – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Married with three kids, he sought a new home in free agency that would be easy for everyone to make a life-changing transition. Even though Tampa Bay is a long way from Detroit, it is still home. Anzalone has trained in the area in the past, including with several of his new Bucs teammates. It is also not too far of a drive from Gainesville, where he played college football for the Gators and where he met his wife. Those factors have made it a seamless adjustment for the Anzalone’s to become full-time Florida residents.

“It’s perfect, honestly,” Anzalone said. “Now I have three kids, and that transition has been getting harder and harder as the years have gone on and the kids have gotten older. It’s a lot less on my family, and now it’s almost like I can focus more on football because the family life is set up perfectly. They’re good, there’s no moving parts… all that crazy stuff you have to do that you don’t really think about. After nine years, it has a little toll on you.”

Not having to worry as much about all the logistics that come with a cross-country move has allowed Anzalone to pour his focus into being the best inside linebacker he can be for the Bucs’ defense.

Bucs ILB Alex Anzalone – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At 31 years old, he is a seasoned veteran with 111 games of experience under his belt. After four years with the Saints, Anzalone’s career took off when he joined the Lions in 2021. He spent five seasons in the Motor City, helping to transform the team from a laughingstock to playoff contender. Staying relatively healthy in recent years, he put together two 100-plus tackle campaigns and contributing in a variety of ways.

From blitzing, relaying defensive calls, to being apt in coverage, he checked a lot of the boxes that Tampa Bay sought in replacing Lavonte David. Anzalone is ready to be a source of knowledge for the younger players on defense, which includes the linebacker room as the team selected Josiah Trotter in the second round. He is set to be a productive linebacker who can serve as a mentor, and he spoke about how leading by example and being relatable will allow him to do so.

“I feel like as you get older, you have so much I guess football knowledge that you want to share or give back,” Anzalone said. “You want to see your teammates succeed. Whether it’s like a situation that I’ve been in before, because there are a million dynamics that can happen within a season or whatnot.

“I feel like I’ve seen a lot of different things and can just offer my perspective to teammates in that regard. Just try to be relatable, have fun, and lead by example. Say what needs to be said when the time comes and not overdo it, either. Have some awareness too, I feel like that’s big.”

Alex Anzalone Ready To Take Control And Run Bucs Defense

Alex Anzalone will be relied upon heavily, especially early in the season. As Josiah Trotter adjusts to the NFL and gets reps, he will play off and look up to Anzalone. A starting role in head coach Todd Bowles’ defense is admittedly not the easiest task, though.

Given the exotic defensive looks Bowles likes to run throughout a game, the veteran linebacker will be asked to wear a lot of hats. That could mean being the green dot linebacker, although that remains to be seen. No matter what is asked of him, he will be ready.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Obviously, early talks,” Anzalone said about the conversations he has had with Bowles about his role. “Playing linebacker, you have to take control of a lot of different things. Whether that’s being the green dot calling plays or not, we’ll see how it shakes out. I’m excited to do my part, help the guys around me, and make my teammates around me better, too.”

He has had conversations with his former offensive teammates about the defenses that have given them the hardest time of what to expect on a down-to-down basis. After going up against the Bucs plenty in recent seasons, Alex Anzalone has heard plenty about the system he is now a part of.

“I know this defense has come up a lot just from playing the Bucs so many times. You know how difficult it is to really process it and diagnose what’s going on, the looks. It’s a defense that I feel like it’s complicated for the offense but in some ways it’s simple for the players on defense.”

Anzalone helped transform the Lions’ defense, and the Bucs are counting on the veteran linebacker to provide similar stability, leadership and communication in the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense. If he delivers, one of Tampa Bay’s biggest questions entering the year will be answered and the defensive overhaul could truly pay dividends in 2026.

If you want to check out Alex Anzalone’s full comments during his recent interview with Casey Phillips, the link to the video is below. It is a great chance to get to know Tampa Bay’s new inside linebacker.