Lions star Aidan Hutchinson lands massive $180m extension one year after gruesome leg injury

Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson has signed a four-year, $180 million extension with $141 million guaranteed, his agent Mike McCartney has confirmed to the Daily Mail.

ESPN was the first to report the deal, which gives the ferocious 25-year-old an average annual salary of $45 million – second only to the $46 million in annual salary Micah Parsons got from the Green Bay Packers earlier this season.

Furthermore, the deal is the most guaranteed to a single non-quarterback in the NFL, ESPN reported.

Hutchinson earned his extension by successfully returning from the broken tibia and fibula he suffered in Week 6 of the 2024 season. The University of Michigan alum hasn't shown any signs of wear in 2025, recording six sacks and registering another 29 quarterback pressures – more than any NFL player behind, once again, Parsons.

Furthermore, Hutchinson is tied for first in the NFL with four forced fumbles on the season.

Hutchinson's deal follows lucrative extensions for teammates such as quarterback Jared Goff, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, right tackle Penei Sewell and safety Kerby Joseph.

But for a defense that is just a few years removed from ranking near the bottom of the league, Hutchinson's extension may be the most important of all.

'The number of things that he's able to do for us in the run and the pass game, man, it takes up -- he pulls a lot slack, man,' Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier this month.

'You talk about pulling your weight, he pulls his weight and then some. He requires a lot of resources offensively, which helps everybody else out. Guys like him, he's in that rare world of, man, you don't get the easy way out.'

The Lions may not be done signing their young core to extensions. Safety Brian Branch, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campell and tight end Sam Laporta are all seeking extensions as well.