The Detroit Lions are adding some veteran linebacker and special teams depth to their defense this week. Per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, the Lions are signing Ben Niemann.
As Rogers notes, Niemann has played 86 regular season games and has started 21 of them. He was undrafted by the Chiefs in 2018 and spent four seasons there and helped the team win a Super Bowl in 2019. He had two tackles in that game.
Niemann has also played with the Cardinals where Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden was on the coaching staff and he was with the Titans where new Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams was the assistant head coach.
Most recently Niemann was with the Broncos. He played seven games for them in 2023. The Broncos did not bring him back. Perhaps Dan Campbell’s mentor Sean Payton gave a recommendation to Campbell for this move.
No word as to what the corresponding move for this is yet. We’ll update this piece as soon as we know.