Selected second overall out of Nebraska in 2010 after one of the most terrifying individual college seasons in gridiron history, Ndamukong Suh stepped into the state of Michigan as an instant structural force. Boasting rare raw power, explosion off the snap, and a mean streak that threw opposing offensive lines into complete disarray, Suh immediately redefined what an interior defensive tackle could accomplish.

Suh took the NFL by storm as a rookie, racking up 10.0 sacks, 66 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown to capture 2010 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors alongside First-Team All-Pro recognition. Alongside Nick Fairley and Cliff Avril, he anchored a vicious front four that helped transform Detroit from a league afterthought into a playoff contender, propelling the Lions to postseason berths in 2011 and 2014.

Suh’s prime years in Detroit were pure interior disruption. Opposing offensive coordinators had to fundamentally alter their game plans, committing two and sometimes three blockers to contain him, yet he still routinely blew up plays in the backfield. His relentless pursuit and upper-body strength made him equally devastating against the run, suffocating interior rushing lanes and allowing linebackers like DeAndre Levy to roam freely. During his final season in Detroit in 2014, Suh led a unit that finished as the NFL’s top-ranked rushing defense, allowing an astonishingly low 69.3 rushing yards per game.

While his relentless physical style frequently crossed the line—earning him an infamous reputation as one of the league's dirtiest players alongside a string of hefty fines and high-profile suspensions—there was no denying his sheer game-disrupting dominance. Teams were forced to commit double-teams on virtually every snap, yet Suh routinely collapsed pockets from the inside and disrupted backfield handoffs before they could even materialize.

He departed following the 2014 season to sign a record-breaking contract with Miami, later winning Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay and earning a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He compiled 238 tackles, 36.0 sacks, 66 tackles for loss, 98 quarterback hits, and one interception in Detroit.