I still remember when Barry Sanders faxed his retirement notice to his hometown newspaper — a move that spoke volumes about how tough it was to keep playing for a struggling Lions team. Years later, Calvin Johnson walked away for similar reasons, choosing his health over more losing seasons. And who could forget Ndamukong Suh, who seemed to be counting down the days until he could bolt Detroit at his first chance.

Now, Ahmed Hassanein isn’t on that level — at least not yet — and mentioning him in the same breath as those franchise icons might seem like a stretch. But here’s what makes his story worth noting: after the Lions released him on an injury settlement, all 31 other NFL teams reportedly reached out with interest. Still, he chose to come back to Detroit.

The “culture change” line might sound overused when it comes to the Lions, but this is real proof of it. Players genuinely want to be here now. And it’s not just rookies like Hassanein saying it — it’s the ripple effect of what Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and this front office have built.