DeKALB — After completing their first NFL season, two former NIU football teammates are extending their professional careers by signing futures contracts with their respective teams.
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman James Ester and Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert, who were both undrafted free agent signings in 2024, inked their deals promptly after their teams were eliminated from the playoffs.
Ester was the first of the two former Huskies to sign, putting pen to paper on Jan. 13 after spending the entire season on Green Bay’s practice squad. The former NIU captain called the signing “a blessing.”
“As a practice squad guy going throughout the season, you’re kind of working towards something like that, hoping that you’re showing enough through practicing and stuff that you’re preparing the starters and also showing that you have the potential to be a guy that can be counted on on game days in the future,” Ester said. “I think that was kind of something that solidified the confidence that I built throughout the season.”
As for Gilbert, the Detroit native signed with the hometown Lions on Monday following an up-and-down rookie season.
Gilbert saw action in the Lions’ first preseason game before he suffered an injury during an Aug. 11 practice, which led to him being waived with an injury designation two days later. The Lions later re-signed Gilbert to their practice on Dec. 26, just in time for the rookie to watch Detroit’s brief playoff run.
“It’s a great feeling, especially because this is a team that took a shot on me and believed in me,” Gilbert said. “My roots are here, and I have a great relationship with the coaching staff and the players, so I was just very excited to be able to just come back home.”
Ester and Gilbert were among four former Huskies signed to NFL rosters in 2024, along with Pittsburgh Steelers guard Max Scharping and Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward.
By signing futures deals, Ester and Gilbert will remain with their respective teams without counting toward the salary cap or the 53-man roster limit. Instead, their contracts will take effect when the new league year begins at 3 p.m. CT March 12.
In the meantime, the two will stay on the reserve/futures list and won’t be able to sign with other clubs.
