Alex Anzalone #34

Respect earned in two locker rooms

Anzalone wore the captain’s “C” in all five Detroit seasons. His selection by Buccaneers teammates in 2026 continued that responsibility in a new organization. Captaincy offers a useful measure of how the players around him regard his work. Tampa Bay’s captain announcement.

That work was visible during the offseason alongside rookie Josiah Trotter. The Buccaneers documented Anzalone offering reminders from the sideline and helping the younger linebacker recognize assignments. He settled into the weakside “Mo” role in Todd Bowles’ defense while becoming a resource for Trotter. The club’s account of their work together.

Tampa already meant something

According to the Buccaneers, Anzalone had spent every offseason in Tampa with his family since 2017. He had also trained with Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr. before joining them as a teammate. His family accompanied him when he signed in March, making the move a personal occasion as well as a football decision. The homecoming feature.

The Florida connection extends beyond his own playing career. A university feature identifies his wife, Lindsey, as former Gators soccer player Lindsey Cooper and describes their established home in the Tampa Bay area. Florida’s family and education feature.

A state title, then the SEC

At Wyomissing Area High School, Anzalone played on both sides of the ball. His senior team went 16–0 in 2012 and won the school’s first Pennsylvania Class AA state championship. He later joined Florida, where his college seasons ran from 2013 through 2016. Florida’s biography.

Injuries interrupted his progress: a shoulder injury ended 2015 after two games, and a broken forearm at Arkansas ended 2016 after eight. His final season still produced 53 tackles and three sacks. Florida’s season summaries. Across the school’s statistical rows, he finished with 75 tackles and five tackles for loss. Pro Day record (PDF).

Work beyond the practice field

Anzalone graduated in August 2016 with a degree in Sport Management. Years later, Florida documented his return to graduate coursework while playing in the NFL, including classes during the pandemic shutdown. That account describes a player continuing his education around the demands of his profession. The commencement announcement; his return to coursework.

• SEC Academic Honor Roll: 2014, 2015 and 2016.
• Florida’s Chris Patrick Courage Award: 2014.

These are academic and team honors documented by Florida’s official biography.

Helping prepare Thanksgiving meals

On November 11, 2025, Anzalone joined a Thanksgiving meal-packing event at Gleaners Community Food Bank in Taylor, Michigan. The Lions’ photographs show him packing boxes with other participants. It is a concrete example of community work during his Detroit years: lending time to help prepare food for local families. The official event gallery.

Encouraging students through CHAMPS

In April 2025, Athletes for Hope highlighted Anzalone’s participation in its CHAMPS program, which promotes youth leadership, fitness and mental-health awareness. The organization also pictured him leading a virtual visit. Alongside the food-bank work, it offers another view of his willingness to give his time away from the stadium. Athletes for Hope’s account.