Football is a business of cold shoulders and short memories, but some ghosts never quite leave the building. When Ndamukong Suh walked into the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park in August 2025, it felt like the air changed. It had been more than a decade. Ten long years since the most polarizing defensive force in franchise history suited up for the Honolulu Blue.
The Ndamukong Suh Detroit Lions return visit wasn't the "I’m back" signing that some fans had spent years manifesting on Reddit. It was something else. It was a retired legend, now a sharp-suited entrepreneur and media personality, stepping back onto the turf where he once terrorized quarterbacks and stomped on limbs.
The Reality Behind the Visit
For years, the relationship between Suh and the Lions was, well, basically nonexistent. He left for Miami in 2015 after a contract dispute that left a lot of people in Detroit feeling bitter. He felt "pushed out." The fans felt abandoned. It was a messy divorce that stayed messy for a long time.
So, why show up now?
Honestly, the timing was perfect. Suh officially retired in July 2025, closing a 13-season career that included a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay and 71.5 career sacks. He didn’t come back to Detroit to put on pads. He came back as a businessman and a podcaster. With his new show, No Free Lunch, and his role as an analyst for Sky Sports, Suh is pivoting. Hard.
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Seeing him at training camp wasn't about a roster spot. It was about mending fences. The current Lions regime, led by Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, has made it a point to welcome back former stars who left on bad terms. They did it with Calvin Johnson. They’re doing it with Suh.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rift
There's this common narrative that Suh hated Detroit. That's just not true. He still calls it an "amazing city" and spends time there during the offseasons because of his various business ventures and mentors in the area.
The beef was with the front office. Specifically, the old one.
Suh recently went on the Up & Adams show and admitted he’s felt a bit alienated by the franchise. He hasn’t had "the talk" about retiring as a Lion or being inducted into the Pride of the Lions. While he has clear, loving relationships with the Eagles and the Bucs, the Detroit connection has remained a question mark.
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- The 2014 Season: Suh still points to this as the one that got away. That team was stacked.
- The Money: He’s been vocal about feeling he should have been paid more than Matthew Stafford at the time.
- The Reputation: Fans remember the "dirty" play, but former teammates remember a guy who was the first in and last out of the weight room.
A New Version of Number 93
The guy who walked into the facility in 2025 isn't the same "House of Suh" monster we saw in 2010. He’s 39 now. He’s a father. He talks about "emotional intelligence" and building long-term partnerships with his wife, Katya.
It’s weird to see, right?
The most feared man in the NFL is now a "big ol' softie" (his words, basically) who focuses on real estate development and philanthropy. But don't let the suit fool you. That intensity is still there; it’s just directed at private equity and broadcasting now.
Why This Matters for the Lions Today
You might wonder why a 2025 visit from a retired player is a big deal for a team that's currently a Super Bowl contender.
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It’s about culture.
Dan Campbell wants the "gritty" identity, and nobody embodied that more than Suh. Even if the Lions turned down his attempts to return as a player in 2023—which apparently happened—having him around the building as an elder statesman is huge for the young guys. Imagine being a rookie defensive tackle and having a future Hall of Famer (he was just selected for the College Football Hall of Fame in 2026, by the way) watching your tape.
The Actionable Insight: What's Next?
If you're a fan holding out hope for a 1-day contract so he can retire a Lion, stay tuned. The visit to Allen Park was the first step. These things take time, especially with a personality as proud as Suh's.
Keep an eye on his podcast and his appearances on Sky Sports. The more he talks about his time in Detroit, the closer we get to seeing him honored at Ford Field.
What you should do now:
- Check out the archives of the No Free Lunch podcast for his specific takes on the current Lions roster.
- Watch for the announcement of the 2026 Pride of the Lions inductees; his name might finally be on the shortlist.
- Separate the "on-field villain" from the "off-field pro." The era of hating Suh in Detroit is officially over. It's time to appreciate the dominance he brought to a franchise that desperately needed it.
The bridge isn't fully built yet, but the first pillars are definitely in the ground.