The Detroit Lions are doing what good teams do in January: quietly adding depth and competition before anyone else is paying attention.
According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Lions have signed Thomas Gordon to a futures contract, bringing in the former Chicago Bears tight end after his rookie season in the league.
It’s not a splashy move. It’s not meant to be. It’s the kind of signing that fills out a 90-man offseason roster and gives the coaching staff another developmental piece to evaluate.
Who Is Thomas Gordon?
Gordon is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end who spent six years at Northwestern, carving out a role as a reliable, underneath pass catcher in the Big Ten. He isn’t a volume receiver, but he was productive when called upon and showed steady improvement late in his college career.
Over his final two seasons, Gordon posted:
- 27 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown in 2024
- Career totals: 54 receptions, 529 yards, 2 touchdowns
That profile screams developmental depth tight end rather than instant contributor, but teams value size, experience, and coachability at the position.
What Happened in Chicago?
Gordon entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie and signed with the Chicago Bears in August of 2025. He didn’t make the Bears’ initial 53-man roster, but he stuck around.
His year in Chicago went like this:
- August 2025: Signed by the Bears
- Late August: Released during final cuts
- December 2025: Signed to Chicago’s practice squad
- January 2026: Not retained on a futures deal, released
Once Chicago moved on, Detroit stepped in.
Why the Lions Took a Look
This is a classic futures signing.
The Lions aren’t asking Gordon to replace anyone. They’re giving themselves another body for offseason workouts, OTAs, and training camp. If he flashes as a blocker, special teams contributor, or red-zone option, he sticks around. If not, they move on with zero risk.
Detroit has consistently used futures deals to uncover role players and camp surprises. Most never make the roster. A few carve out niche roles.
That’s the bet here.
How He Fits in Detroit
Gordon enters a tight end room that already has an established hierarchy, so expectations should be realistic. This is about:
- Camp competition
- Practice reps
- Depth for a long offseason
- A low-cost developmental swing
At minimum, Gordon gives the coaching staff another option to evaluate while protecting themselves from attrition during the spring and summer.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a headline move. It’s a process move.
The Lions saw a former Big Ten tight end with size, experience, and a year in an NFL system — and decided he was worth a closer look. That’s exactly what futures contracts are for.
If Thomas Gordon turns into more than that, great. If not, Detroit loses nothing by finding out.
