Jalen Reeves-Maybin Bio
Jalen Ahmad Reeves-Maybin (born January 31, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker and special teamer. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Reeves-Maybin has served as president of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) since 2024, and in 2023 he was selected to his first Pro Bowl and his first All-Pro team as a special teamer.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Ahmad Reeves-Maybin was born on January 31, 1995, in Clarksville, Tennessee. He is the son of LaDawn Reeves and Marques Maybin, a former standout basketball player who played shooting guard at the University of Louisville from 1997 to 2001. Reeves-Maybin grew up in Clarksville and attended Northeast High School, where he contributed on both sides of the ball.
At Northeast High School, Reeves-Maybin played quarterback on offense and emerged as a leader on defense. During his senior season, he gained more than 2,000 rushing yards, including 1,000 yards across three postseason games, and scored two touchdowns in a playoff contest against eventual state champion Beech Senior High School. In 2012, the Tennessee Sports Writers named him an All-State selection on defense, signaling his potential at the next level.
Path to American Football
Before the 2013 season, Reeves-Maybin committed to play college football for the University of Tennessee under head coach Butch Jones. He quickly carved out a role on special teams as a true freshman, recording a team-best 11 tackles on those units while rotating between linebacker and defensive back across 11 games.
Over the following seasons, Reeves-Maybin developed into one of the most productive linebackers in the Southeastern Conference. He started every game in 2014 and 2015, earning second-team All-SEC honors in 2015, before an injury-limited senior campaign in 2016. After the 2016 regular season, he declared for the 2017 NFL draft, where scouts projected him as a sixth or seventh round pick before the Lions took him in the fourth round.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
The Detroit Lions selected Reeves-Maybin in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, making him the 11th linebacker chosen that year and the second linebacker drafted by the Lions behind first-rounder Jarrad Davis. He signed a four-year, $3.01 million contract and opened his rookie season as the backup weakside linebacker behind Tahir Whitehead. Reeves-Maybin made his debut in the season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals and finished his rookie year with 30 combined tackles in 14 games.
After a 2018 campaign cut short by toe and neck injuries that landed him on injured reserve, Reeves-Maybin returned healthy in 2019. He appeared in all 16 games and produced 37 total tackles along with one forced fumble, establishing himself as a reliable presence on Detroit’s defense and special teams.
Detroit Lions Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Reeves-Maybin continued to grow in 2020, playing all 16 games and recording ten total tackles while contributing extensively on special teams. On March 17, 2021, he re-signed with the Lions and delivered his most productive defensive season to date, finishing with 82 total tackles, four passes deflected, and two forced fumbles in 15 games. That year cemented his reputation as a versatile linebacker capable of impacting the game on every down.
Houston Texans Era (2022)
On March 23, 2022, Reeves-Maybin signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans. He appeared in all 17 games during the 2022 season, primarily in a special teams role, before being released on March 16, 2023.
Detroit Lions Second Stint (2023–2024)
Reeves-Maybin returned to Detroit on a one-year deal on March 23, 2023, and produced one of the most memorable special teams seasons in the league. In the 2023 regular season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, he converted a first down on a fake punt, and in Week 13 he recorded four special teams tackles against the New Orleans Saints to earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He was later part of a 31-yard fake punt pass to Khalil Dorsey in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. On January 3, 2024, Reeves-Maybin was invited to the 2024 Pro Bowl as the NFC’s sole special teams representative, and he was also named second-team All-Pro for his play.
On February 26, 2024, Reeves-Maybin signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Lions and appeared in ten games during the 2024 season, contributing on both defense and special teams. The Lions released him on March 12, 2025, in a move to clear salary cap space.
Chicago Bears Era (2025)
Reeves-Maybin was signed to the Chicago Bears’ practice squad on November 18, 2025. He appeared in three games and recorded two tackles before being released on December 16, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reeves-Maybin is known for his football intelligence, dependable tackling, and elite special teams play. His ability to read plays quickly and execute on coverage units has made him a trusted asset, while his open-field tackling and versatility have allowed him to log meaningful snaps on defense when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Reeves-Maybin’s career include his 2023 Pro Bowl selection, his second-team All-Pro nod the same year, and his election as NFLPA president in March 2024. He also produced one of the most talked-about special teams plays of 2023 with his 31-yard fake punt completion against Dallas.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Reeves-Maybin has been recognized primarily for his special teams impact rather than headline win totals. His most celebrated individual honor came in 2023, when he was voted to the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-Pro recognition as a special teamer, validating years of consistent production in the third phase of the game.
NFL Career Highlights
Reeves-Maybin’s standout moment arrived in 2023, when his work on special teams earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and a Pro Bowl invitation. He followed that breakthrough by signing a two-year, $7.5 million extension with the Lions in February 2024, a clear sign of the franchise’s confidence in his continued value.
Other Performances
Beyond the NFL, Reeves-Maybin earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2015 after leading Tennessee with 14.0 tackles-for-loss and ranking among the conference leaders in total tackles. His college career featured a career-high 21 tackles against Oklahoma in 2015 and a game-sealing fumble recovery against rival South Carolina.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Reeves-Maybin is the son of LaDawn Reeves and Marques Maybin, a former standout basketball player at the University of Louisville from 1997 to 2001. He is also the cousin of former Major League Baseball outfielder Cameron Maybin, giving the family a notable multi-sport athletic pedigree.
Personal Life
In March 2024, Reeves-Maybin was elected to a two-year term as president of the NFL Players Association, reflecting the trust his peers place in his leadership. Beyond his union duties, he has remained active in community and player advocacy work throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Reeves-Maybin still under contract with the Detroit Lions after signing a two-year, $7.5 million extension in February 2024. On March 12, 2025, the Lions released him in a move to clear salary cap space, ending his second stint with the franchise. The transaction opened the door for him to seek a fresh opportunity elsewhere in the league.
On November 18, 2025, Reeves-Maybin was signed to the Chicago Bears’ practice squad, giving him a chance to contribute late in the year. He appeared in three games for the Bears and recorded two tackles before being released on December 16, 2025.
Looking ahead, Reeves-Maybin remains an experienced special teams ace and respected locker-room presence heading into the next league year. His combination of special teams excellence, defensive versatility, and ongoing NFLPA leadership role suggests he will continue to attract interest from teams seeking veteran depth and culture-building leadership.