Jimmy Rolder
Career Summary
Jimmy Rolder is a Detroit Lions linebacker who played at Michigan.
Detroit selected Rolder in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after four seasons with the Wolverines.
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Early Life
Rolder is from Orland Park, Illinois.
Born February 9, 2004, James "Jimmy" Rolder grew up with a family football connection: his stepfather, Scott Kehoe, played at Illinois and with the Miami Dolphins.
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High School
Rolder played football and baseball at Marist.
At Marist High School, he helped the RedHawks reach the Class 8A state semifinal as a senior. He led the team with 115 tackles in 2021 and also received Division I baseball offers as a third baseman.
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College Career
Rolder developed from a special-teams contributor into Michigan's leading tackler.
He recorded 14 tackles as a freshman in 2022, five in 2023 and 26 in 2024. His senior season brought 11 starts, a team-leading 73 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
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Path to the NFL
The Lions drafted Rolder 118th overall.
His 2026 fourth-round selection made him the third Michigan linebacker drafted by Detroit, following Andy Cannavino and Ted Topor.
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NFL Career
Rolder began his NFL career with Detroit in 2026.
The Lions list him as rookie linebacker No. 41, and the NFL's team roster identifies him as an active player.
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Career Accomplishments
Rolder earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2025.
He also received Michigan's Roger Zatkoff Award and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Michigan State game. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and contributed to Michigan's 2023 national championship team.
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Playing Style
Rolder's final college season included strong run-defense and coverage results.
Detroit's biography cites an 80.0 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and no touchdown receptions allowed on 13 targets. Those results document his college performance rather than guarantee an NFL role.
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32405, 00-0041442, 2/9/2004, Jimmy Rolder, James, Rolder
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
Current player ranking
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2026 preseason baseline. Position-relative and updated through the site’s weekly review process.