BREAKING: The most intriguing free agent signing for the Detroit Lions

Stuard’s modest one-year $1.7 million agreement was nearly overlooked in comparison to Reed’s massive contract. Opponents should not, however, mistakenly disregard him. Stuard’s life story is an incredible tale of overcoming overwhelming odds to accomplish the seemingly unachievable. Stuard was given the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant” after being chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 259th and last choice in the 2021 NFL draft. Although being taken last in the draft is a huge affirmation, it is uncommon for athletes chosen last to make a team’s 53-man roster. Only two “Mr. Irrelevants” have achieved that objective in the last ten years, and Stuard is one of them. But like another “Mr. Irrelevant,” Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers, Stuard may surprise a lot of people.

Making an NFL roster as the last man drafted doesn’t seem quite as big a hurdle after Stuard grew up wondering if there would be food on the table, electricity in the house, or if a parent would come home. Shortly after he was drafted, Stuard acknowledged in an ESPN Interview the difficulties of growing up with a father in and out of prison, and a drug-addicted mother who turned to prostitution to support her habit. One of five children, Stuard and his siblings were often bounced from house to house, dependent on supportive family members and others in the community for help.

 

For young Stuard, football offered stability in a world where everything else was ever-shifting and unreliable. Former Oak Ridge High School football coach Dereck Rush saw Stuard’s potential. With 154 career tackles and 7.5 sacks, Stuard was named first-team all-district linebacker his junior season.

 

In college, Stuard played both linebacker and running back for the Houston Cougars. Leading his team in tackles, he topped the AAC leaderboard with the most tackles per game. As a senior, his maturity and leadership skills led to his being named a team captain.

 

Stuard, Another Overachieving “Mr. Irrelevant”

A year after he was drafted, Stuard was traded to the Colts. The trade proved beneficial, leading to increased opportunities. Deployed primarily on special teams, he scored his first NFL touchdown in an overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans on an 18-yard blocked punt return. Later in the season, Stuard got his first NFL start with the Colts. He played 64 of the Colts’ 69 defensive snaps to record a team-leading 19 tackles in a 16-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Making an NFL roster as the last man drafted doesn’t seem quite as big a hurdle after Stuard grew up wondering if there would be food on the table, electricity in the house, or if a parent would come home. Shortly after he was drafted, Stuard acknowledged in an ESPN Interview the difficulties of growing up with a father in and out of prison, and a drug-addicted mother who turned to prostitution to support her habit. One of five children, Stuard and his siblings were often bounced from house to house, dependent on supportive family members and others in the community for help.

For young Stuard, football offered stability in a world where everything else was ever-shifting and unreliable. Former Oak Ridge High School football coach Dereck Rush saw Stuard’s potential. With 154 career tackles and 7.5 sacks, Stuard was named first-team all-district linebacker his junior season.

In college, Stuard played both linebacker and running back for the Houston Cougars.  Leading his team in tackles, he topped the AAC leaderboard with the most tackles per game. As a senior, his maturity and leadership skills led to his being named a team captain.

 

Stuard, Another Overachieving “Mr. Irrelevant”

A year after he was drafted, Stuard was traded to the Colts. The trade proved beneficial, leading to increased opportunities. Deployed primarily on special teams, he scored his first NFL touchdown in an overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans on an 18-yard blocked punt return. Later in the season, Stuard got his first NFL start with the Colts. He played 64 of the Colts’ 69 defensive snaps to record a team-leading 19 tackles in a 16-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Thrilled to be playing for the Lions, Stuard acknowledged the team’s intensity and level of expectation in a recent interview. He knows he needs to work even harder to match the culture. However, making the transition a bit easier, Stuard reunited with a couple of familiar faces from Tampa Bay, former teammate Pat O’Connor and former coach Kacy Rodgers. Considered one of the best defensive line coaches in the game, Rodgers is also the Lions’ run game coordinator.

 

But Stuard isn’t afraid of the hard work. “I’m a guy that loves to work hard. I love to improve. I love to be coached. I’m really big on just being the best version of myself every single day, and I feel like this is an environment that’s super conducive to that.”

 

Stuard Prioritizing Giving Back To the Community and Helping Others

Another layer of motivation for Stuard to succeed in Detroit is his desire to be a positive role model for his siblings. He hasn’t forgotten their difficult upbringing, and he wants to inspire others who may struggle with similar challenges. Committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, Stuard sponsors local toy drives and raises funds for the Christian-based organization, Heels To Halos, that helps women who are victims of sex trafficking.

 

“No matter what adversity comes in your life, there’s always a way out,” Stuard said. He firmly believes that faith and hard work, along with the support of his grandmother, coaches, and teachers, made the difference in his life. “If you just keep working hard, doing everything that you can and everything that you can control and really keep the Lord’s will first in your life, I truly believe that you will be successful.”

 

It appears Holmes has struck gold once again and found another great player in Stuard, who will reap huge dividends for the Lions.