Maurice Alexander, a Detroit Lions wide receiver who appeared in four games during the 2024 season, is joining the Chicago Bears, following former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
According to the NFL’s transaction wire, Alexander has signed a futures deal with Chicago, where he will reunite with Johnson, who became the Bears’ head coach last week. He will also reconnect with Antwaan Randle El, who made the move to Chicago as well, taking on the role of wide receivers coach and assistant head coach.
Alexander finished the 2024 season on the Lions’ practice squad, and Detroit chose not to offer him a futures deal. This allowed Alexander to become a free agent, enabling him to sign with any team before free agency officially begins in March.
At 28, Alexander has been with the Lions on and off since 2022. This past season, he made three appearances, stepping in as the team’s kick and punt returner when Kalif Raymond was sidelined for over a month with a foot injury. Alexander recorded four punt returns for 42 yards, though he did have a fumble (which was not lost).
Known by the nickname “Hard Time,” Alexander didn’t have many opportunities on the field over his three seasons (seven game appearances), but he built a reputation as a hard worker and a great teammate. He was one of the players who regularly worked out with Teddy Bridgewater both in and out of the Lions’ training facility.
“He’s been back there just listening. After practice, catching jugs. Walk-through, catching jugs, just listening,” Raymond recalled of Alexander in 2022. “And then as I’m working, he’s working. And a lot of people don’t know his story. This dude’s working another job, got a call from the USFL, balls out for the USFL, becomes a Detroit Lion and then finally takes a punt back in the NFL. There’s a lot of work that went in between that moment—the moment he had in that game, and a lot of work that went in between that nobody saw. And that dude works his tail off.”
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Report: Detroit Lions part ways with defensive assistant coach
The Detroit Lions are reportedly parting ways with assistant defensive line coach Cameron Davis.
According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, Davis, who has been with the team since 2022, will no longer be part of the coaching staff. This comes after the Lions also lost defensive line coach Terrell Williams earlier this offseason, as he took the defensive coordinator role with the New England Patriots to reunite with Mike Vrabel. The Lions have since hired Kacy Rodgers as their new defensive line coach.
This adds to the disruption in the Lions’ defensive coaching staff. Despite this, coach Dan Campbell had expressed satisfaction with the coaching of the defensive line unit.
“I’ve known Terrell a long, long time and I just think that he’s an absolutely excellent coach, and Cam continues to grow as a coach as well and they work well together,” Campbell said in December. “I think they give our guys the best opportunity to have success in a game which is what you want.”
The Lions’ defensive line faced significant injury setbacks this season, with players like Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Marcus Davenport, Kyle Peko, John Cominsky, and Mekhi Wingo all missing substantial time. Nevertheless, the defense persevered, with strong performances from draft picks Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal.
This marks another coaching vacancy for the Lions, adding to a list of coaches who have departed this offseason, including:
- OC Ben Johnson
- DC Aaron Glenn
- Assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett
- WR coach Antwaan Randle El
- DL coach Terrell Williams
- Assistant DL coach Cameron Davis.
