Former Tennessee LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin elected as new NFLPA president
The NFLPA board elected Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin as the organization’s new president on Friday, the board of player representatives announced. Reeves-Maybin recently served as a member of the NFLPA’s executive committee.
He takes over for former Green Bay Packers center JC Tretter who served two terms as president and oversaw the tumultuous COVID season of 2020. NFLPA executive positions carry two-year terms. Other members of the executive committee are Austin Ekeler, Calais Campbell, Brandon McManus, Thomas Morestead, and more.
Reeves-Maybin majored in Reaction and Sports Management at the University of Tennessee prior to entering the league in 2017. He recently re-signed with the Lions on a two-year deal that will net him $7.5 million as one of the team’s special teams aces.
“The #Lions have agreed to a contract extension with Pro Bowl special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin, according to his agent @bd_mclaughlin. It’s a two-year, $7.5 million deal worth a max of $8 million that makes him the highest-paid core special-teamer ever,” NFL insider Mike Garafolo shared.
Reeves-Maybin earns first All-Pro second-team selection
Jalen Reeves-Maybin represented the NFC in the Pro Bowl, serving as the only special teams player from the conference at the Pro Bowl. He was also named second-team All-Pro for his play in 2023. He tallied 20 tackles with one sack in the regular season. He then added six more tackles in the Lions’ postseason games, including a sack. The special teams star also forced a fumble in the playoffs.
Reeves-Maybin was originally drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He spent five seasons in Detroit, before spending the 2022 season with the Texans. He then returned to the Lions for the 2023 season and will also be in Detroit in 2024 and 2025.
During his time at Tennessee, Reeves-Maybin was a three-year starter. As a senior, he started four games, before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. In 2015, he finished seventh in the SEC with 105 tackles.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
On3’s Matt Connelly contributed to this report.