Alex Anzalone won the hearts of millions on Sunday Night Football.
The Detroit Lions linebacker might not be as known as many other players on his steam or even in the league, but he certainly made a name for himself just before his team took on the Houston Texans.
During the Sunday Night Football introductions, Alex Anzalone went viral when he chose not to state his high school or college, but make note of himself being a father of two.
Coming into this game, Alex Anzalone had 33 tackles and one sack.
Last season, he had 129 total tackles and three sacks.
Alex Anzalone Loved By Fans After His Emotional Letter To The Lions Fan Base
If the ball bounced a different way, the Detroit Lions would’ve been in Las Vegas gearing up for Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Anything could’ve happened.
Unfortunately, the team found itself on the outside looking in on the big game after blowing a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers.
The major talking point was some questionable decision-making by head coach Dan Campbell down the stretch.
Alex Anzalone did not like that.
Campbell chose to go for it on fourth down and failed. The 49ers would score touchdowns both times despite the Lions being in field goal range.
Alex Anzalone defended his coach by penning a note in The Players’ Tribune.
“It was the right decision — and I’m not talking about the right decision for analytics or talk radio or whatever,” Anzalone wrote.
“It was the right call for us, especially in that moment. When you’re in that situation, 20 games into an NFL season, it’s not like a video game. You’re not playing Madden. You had guys out there playing with bum ankles. Guys playing with MCL sprains. Guys taking nerve injections and toradol. Guys who could barely get out of bed that morning. It’s a battle of wills at that point in the season.
You’re just running on pure belief and adrenaline. I feel like if you shy away from your identity in that moment, then you’re betraying the very thing that got you there.”