WATCH: Michigan alum Aidan Hutchinson featured on 'Hard Knocks'
Michigan football alum and current Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was featured in Tuesday’s season debut of “Hard Knocks” on HBO. Video finally emerged of his performance of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” with the HBO cameras rolling.
Hutchinson – the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft – was called to the front of the room by head coach Dan Campbell during a team meeting and told to recite a song. He stumbled at first, but regrouped and had his Lions teammates joining in by the end of the rendition.
The segment was filmed on Aug. 1 and those in the building knew it would be featured in the docuseries.
“He’s very self-aware,” Campbell said, via The Detroit News. “He is. He’s not coming in here being loud and talking a bunch of trash or doing anything like that. He knows he’s got to earn his right. Just because he was a first-round pick doesn’t mean that he’s automatically got the respect of everybody in there. He’s got to earn that and he understands it.
“So, he goes out there and he just works his (butt) off in practice. And then in meetings, he keeps his mouth shut until he’s asked a question. That’s exactly what you want in a rookie. He’s going to earn their respect.”
Hutchinson has come a long way from being the battery and heart and soul of the Michigan football team. The Lions hazed him during training camp and he has some new fans as a result.
“The man was money,” offensive tackle Penei Sewell said Monday. “He scratched up a little bit at the beginning, but I get it. Jitters. But he killed it. That man killed it.”
“I will say this — it was outstanding,” Campbell said. “He took a big step in respect of his teammates because it was a hell of a performance.”
Aidan Hutchinson background
Hutchinson, who played in 43 career games at Michigan, was a Consensus All-American in 2021 and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. Hutchinson, a two-time captain, is the program record-holder for sacks in a single season, notching 14 for the Wolverines in 2021. His play earned him runner-up honors in the Heisman Trophy race.
Hutchinson was the first Michigan player selected by the Lions since guard Graham Glasgow and quarterback Jake Rudock in 2016. Before then, the last Wolverine to come off the board to Detroit was offensive tackle Jeff Backus in 2001. Hutchinson is the first defensive player from Ann Arbor selected by Detroit since Garland Rivers in 1987.
Hutchinson is the third first-round pick from Michigan in Lions history. The other two were fullback Bob Westfall (1942) and Backus. Wide receiver Terry Barr (third-round pick, 1957) is the only former Wolverine to make a Pro Bowl as a Lion. He was also on the last team to win a championship with the team as part of the 1957 roster.
