Former Pitt DB Signs With Hometown Detroit Lions

Avonte Maddox, a former Pitt defensive back, hails from Detroit, Mich. and that is where he will play his next season in the National Football League.

On Friday, the Detroit Lions signed the unrestricted free agent Maddox. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the deal is for one year.

Maddox, 28, has spent the entirety of his seven-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles after the organization drafted the Pitt cornerback in the fourth round of the 2018 draft with the 125th overall selection.

While in Philadelphia, Maddox played a depth role in the secondary and became a Super Bowl Champion in 2025. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Maddox recorded one pass defended. Maddox signed a one-year deal prior to the 2024-25 season as he went on to compile 19 tackles (eight solo) and five passes defended in 17 games.

The 5-foot-9, 184-pound corner appeared in 81 games with 257 tackles (187 solo), 36 passes defended, four interceptions — two of which came in his rookie season — and three sacks. His best season came in 2021 when he recorded a career-high 67 tackles, along with nine passes defended and an interception.

Maddox spent four seasons as Pitt and became an immediate contributor as a true freshman in 2014. He appeared in 13 games, starting six, while logging 32 tackles and three pass breakups.

Avonte Maddox and Rafael Araujo-Lopes during warm ups September 9, 2017 — David Hague

In 2015, Maddox started all 13 games at corner, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC thanks to a stat line of 75 tackles, 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also returned a kick for a touchdown. As a junior, Maddox started nine game, while missing three due to injury as he registered 49 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and eight pass breakups.

During his final season at Pitt, Maddox started 10 games as he notched 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, 13 passes defended and three forced fumbles.

Maddox joined the Panthers out of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit.