Merriweather, a Michigan native, honed his skills at Romulus and Belleville high schools, excelling in both football and basketball. He ultimately finished his high school career at Belleville before heading to Iowa, where he played as a defensive back for four years. During his college tenure, Merriweather recorded four interceptions, one forced fumble, and 118 tackles.
Despite going undrafted in 2023, Merriweather signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made the team’s initial 53-man roster. As a rookie, he played in 16 games, starting twice. This season, he appeared in nine games for the Bucs, with a greater emphasis on special teams, logging 44 defensive snaps and a notable 200 special teams snaps.
Now with the Detroit Lions, Merriweather adds depth to the safety position and provides a solid special teams presence, especially with Ifeatu Melifonwu on injured reserve. The 24-year-old takes pride in representing Michigan, noting that there are few players from his home state in the league.
Reflecting on his journey, Merriweather shared his excitement about the Lions’ growth: “I grew up a Lions fan, and it’s amazing to see their progress. They had a strong building season this year, and I’m confident they’ll continue to improve in the years to come.”
