ALLEN PARK, Mich. — It was a spin move, more Baryshnikov than Bruce Smith.
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson took an outside path on Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews, as defensive ends like Hutchinson usually do. But he didn’t stay on the edge, which probably would have resulted in a stalemate. Instead, with a burst, Hutchinson spun — gracefully, nimbly, forcefully.
He created an open lane to a sack and celebrated, as always, with dance. Then everything Hutchinson was and is came together with a glorious Stanky Leg.
That spin move could define the pass rusher who is third in the NFL in pressures per game (six behind Maxx Crosby and one behind Micah Parsons), according to Pro Football Focus.
At 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, Hutchinson looks like he’s built more for bull rushes and rips than a move borne of timing, precision and finesse. Hutchinson doing spin moves is kind of like 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama nailing 3s.
But Hutchinson goes to the spin frequently, maybe as often as six times a game, and it has worked, though he hasn’t had a sack in four games.
“You can really see his athleticism, the twitch he has in tight spaces, in that spin move, how he sets it up and how quickly he spins,” Lions defensive end Josh Paschal says. “The way he does it is unmatched.” .@aidanhutch97 has our 6th sack of the day! #ATLvsDET |📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/ZGUTVbjlJM — Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 24, 2023
The way he does it has surprised many. People see Hutchinson’s instinct and grit and they make assumptions. They think he’s a throwback.
There’s a lot that people aren’t seeing.
Hutchinson often dances at Ford Field wearing a Honolulu blue jersey, a silver helmet and eye black on one side of his face that he says prepares him for war. It starts above his eyebrow and reaches a point on his cheek around his mouth.
Not long ago, however, he was dancing at his home stadium wearing a pastel shirt and jorts — a tribute to Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album. Hutchinson was in a private suite for the Eras Tour concert with family and friends, including some little girls.
None of the other Swifties in the suite were more animated than Aidan. “He peaked that night during ‘Your Belong With Me’ and ‘Love Story,’” his sister Mia says.
“It was friggin’ electric,” says Aidan, who danced enthusiastically.
GO DEEPERThe way he does it has surprised many. People see Hutchinson’s instinct and grit and they make assumptions. They think he’s a throwback.
There’s a lot that people aren’t seeing.
Hutchinson often dances at Ford Field wearing a Honolulu blue jersey, a silver helmet and eye black on one side of his face that he says prepares him for war. It starts above his eyebrow and reaches a point on his cheek around his mouth.
Not long ago, however, he was dancing at his home stadium wearing a pastel shirt and jorts — a tribute to Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album. Hutchinson was in a private suite for the Eras Tour concert with family and friends, including some little girls.
None of the other Swifties in the suite were more animated than Aidan. “He peaked that night during ‘Your Belong With Me’ and ‘Love Story,’” his sister Mia says.
“It was friggin’ electric,” says Aidan, who danced enthusiastically.
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To fully understand, we need to consider a building with mirrored walls and matted floors in a strip mall in Canton, Mich. For about three years, starting at age 8, the dance studio was Hutchinson’s second home.
It began when he came with his mother, Melissa, to watch Mia and their other sister, Aria, practice for their dance team. While the girls went through their routines, Aidan was mesmerized by a group of about 20 boys.
“Normally, a dance studio is almost all girls, but this one was almost half and half,” Aidan says.
“But this one had a bunch of Asian street dancers who were all just so sick. I looked up to them the way they could pop it and lock it. They were so smooth and so good. And then they were so cool with their streetwear style.”
This was before he was allowed to play tackle football, so he had time for another activity. His mother tried to persuade him to enroll in dance, offering to buy him a Bakugan ball — a toy that opens into an anime action figure.
“He fell for it,” Melissa says. Aidan Hutchinson was a competitive dancer as a youth. “I’m very proud of it,” he says. (Courtesy of Melissa Hutchinson)
Aidan started with hip-hop and took to it easily. He liked how he looked in a snapback hat, skinny jeans and Osiris shoes. Then he expanded to contemporary dance. Before long, he danced daily, putting in 20 hours a week and competing regionally and nationally.R