Lions Fan Favorite Retires and Joins Detroit Police Force
For six seasons, he held down the center of the Lions’ defense, a steady force in Honolulu Blue who represented everything Detroit wants from its own — toughness, reliability, and relentless pride. His leadership made him a fixture of the mid-2010s Lions, and his physical style of play turned him into one of the most trusted linebackers of his era.
Now, he’s bringing that same discipline and grit into a new calling beyond football.
That man is Tahir Whitehead, the former Lions draft pick who played 133 career NFL games — 93 of them in Detroit — starting 54 times and becoming a backbone of the Lions’ defense before later stints with the Raiders, Panthers, and Cardinals.
“Wearing Honolulu Blue taught me pride, resilience, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. Detroit has given me everything, and now I wear the police badge to protect its people and this city with everything I’ve got,”
Whitehead said.
Across his decade-long career, Whitehead totaled 685 tackles, six interceptions, three sacks, and three forced fumbles. His durability, toughness, and football IQ made him one of Detroit’s most dependable defenders from 2012 to 2017.
In 2022, he retired with a symbolic one-day contract to end his career as a Lion — a gesture he described as honoring loyalty, identity, and the belief that “once a Lion, always a Lion.”
Today, Whitehead has officially joined the Detroit Police Force, continuing a life of service in the very community that once roared his name on Sundays. Coaches and former teammates say his discipline, leadership, and commitment to doing things the right way make him a natural fit for the badge.
For Lions fans, his number still brings back memories of critical tackles, sideline-to-sideline effort, and the heartbeat of Detroit’s defense. And now, the city can count on Tahir Whitehead to protect Detroit with the same heart he once played with on the field.