Brockers: Hutchinson ‘opens things up’ for defense
Defensive end Michael Brockers is the only present member of the Detroit Lions’ roster who is 30 or older.
Brockers, 31, is entering his 11th season in the NFL (his second with the Lions). He spent the first nine years of his career with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.
Since joining Detroit in 2021, the organization has added several young pieces to its defensive line, including this past April when it drafted both former Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (No. 2 overall) and ex-Kentucky EDGE Josh Paschal (No. 46 overall). Now, Brockers will be tasked with serving as a mentor for the rookie duo, a role which he first embraced while with the Rams.
“I became a leader kind of overnight with the Rams,” Brockers told Tim Twentyman on the latest “Twentyman in the Huddle” podcast episode. “You know, I was seven years in, and it was new faces in the room. And they were like, ‘Hey, you’re the longest-tenured guy here.’ So, I kind of had to embrace that and just let it happen organically.”
Leading hasn’t always come naturally for Brockers, however.
“When I first became a player in this league, I didn’t see myself as a leader,” he commented to Twentyman. “But, over the years, watching a lot of my mentors and guys that I looked up to, you just pick pieces up here and there, here and there, never be selfish. You know, always give back to the young guys, because you never know how it’s going to help them.”
Speaking of being a leader, Brockers is now also coaching his son’s youth soccer team, an experience that has been satisfying for the NFL veteran.
“So, I’m coaching that soc