Ahmed Hassanein is a man of his word. The Lions rookie proved it this week by returning to Detroit after being waived at the roster deadline.

Detroit waived Hassanein, a 6th-round defensive end from Boise State, instead of placing him on injured reserve with a chest injury. The move came with some risk; any other NFL team was free to sign Hassanein with no recompense to the Lions.

Detroit trusted in Hassanein, who gave the Lions his word that he would not betray their faith in him. As he talked with reporters for the first time since joining the Lions’ practice squad this week, Hassanein indicated that every other NFL team did indeed try to sign him to their practice squad.

Hassanein wasn’t having any of it.

“All 31 (teams) wanted you on their practice squad,” Hassanein relayed the words of his agent. “So I said, ‘man I’m not going anywhere.'”

Though he’s an American citizen and played college football in the United States–two disqualifying facts–Hassanein still manages to qualify as an International Pathways Player, based on his Egyptian heritage. While born in California, Hassanein spent much of his childhood in Egypt. Players in the IPP don’t count against roster limits, which made Hassanein extra appealing.

“I want to stay here because this team believed in me,” Hassanein continued. “I’m going to give them all I’ve got because loyalty is a big thing for me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”#Lions Ahmed Hassanein said all 31 other teams reached out to sign him to their practice squad since he has an International Player Pathway roster exemption.

But he only wanted to be in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/cwWRFqvAcC

— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 12, 2025

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Ahmed Hassanein keeps his word, returns to Lions over 31 other offers