Aidan Joseph Bernardi Hutchinson (born August 9, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Hutchinson was a unanimous All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, and the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2021. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, and named to the All-Rookie Team in 2022. Hutchinson was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2023.
Early life
Hutchinson was born on August 9, 2000, in Plymouth, Michigan. He attended Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan, where he played defensive end, tight end, offensive line, and long snapper. He played in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Game and had two sacks. Hutchinson committed to play college football at the University of Michigan.
College career
As a true freshman at Michigan in 2018, Hutchinson played in all 13 games and had 15 tackles. As a sophomore in 2019, he started all 13 games, recording 68 tackles and 4.5 sacks. As a junior in 2020, he started the first three games until he had a season-ending injury.
As a senior in 2021, Hutchinson set the team's single-season sack record at 14. He won several awards for his efforts, including the Ted Hendricks Award, Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football. He was also the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, the only defensive player among three quarterbacks to be named a finalist. Following the season, Hutchinson declared for the 2022 NFL draft.
Professional career
2022
Hutchinson was selected in the first round with the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year contract, worth $35.7 million fully guaranteed, on May 9, 2022.
Hutchinson recorded three sacks, a Lions rookie record, in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. He recorded his first career interception against Aaron Rodgers in a 15–9 victory over the Green Bay Packers on November 6, 2022, with a second interception against Daniel Jones in a win over the New York Giants two weeks later. He finished his rookie season with 9.5 sacks, 52 total tackles (34 solo), three interceptions, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
2023
In Week 3, Hutchinson recorded four tackles, two sacks, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a recovery in a 20–6 win over the Atlanta Falcons, earning National Football Conference (NFC) Defensive Player of the Week. In Week 17, Hutchinson recorded three sacks against the Dallas Cowboys, marking his second consecutive season with a three-sack game. Hutchinson finished the season with 11.5 sacks, 51 total tackles, an interception, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
2024
On October 13, 2024, against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, Hutchinson suffered a severe leg injury in the third quarter, fracturing both his tibia and fibula. He underwent immediate surgery, with head coach Dan Campbell estimating a recovery timetable of "four to six months." Prior to the injury, Hutchinson had recorded a league-leading 7.5 sacks and 19 total tackles in five games.
NFL career statistics
Awards
- Pro Bowl (2023)
- Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year (2022)
- 2× NFC Defensive Player of the Week – 2022 (Week 11), 2023 (Week 3)
- 2× NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month – November 2022, December 2022–January 2023
Personal life
His father, Chris Hutchinson, also played college football at Michigan. His mother, Melissa Sinkevics, won the 1988 Miss Michigan Teen USA event while his older sister, Aria, won Miss Michigan USA 2022.
Hutchinson's great-grandfather, Giuseppe "Joseph" Bernardi, came from the town of Medeglia in Switzerland.
References
External links
- Aidan Hutchinson on Twitter
- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
- Detroit Lions bio
- Michigan Wolverines bio
