We’ve seen it so many times on so many seasons of Hard Knocks: The rookies get up in front of the room at a training camp meeting to face the entire team and are asked to sing.
Sometimes, they’re terrible. Sometimes, they’re amazing and everyone goes nuts.
In the case of Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson — the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — I’m making the case that this is the greatest performance of that kind ever.
On the premiere episode of the HBO training camp show, Hutchinson sang Michael Jackson’s iconic Billie Jean, and the whole room went rightfully nuts:
This is amazing
Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions should be a lot of fun this year… pic.twitter.com/SOSWNInXwF
— BULLYBALL (@RealBullyBall) August 10, 2022
The dancing. His voice. The reaction from the team when they start singing with him. This is gold.
HBO’s season debut of Hard Knocks with the Lions features the 2nd pick, Aidan Hutchinson – who turns 22 today – singing Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” during team meeting. “Producers claim it may be the most entertaining rookie singing moment in show history,” per show official.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 9, 2022
That Adam Schefter tweet is correct.
Fans couldn't get enough
This will be the National Anthem of Detroit if Aidan Hutchinson brings a Super Bowl here! #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/pQZ3yWsX0k
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 10, 2022
Aidan Hutchinson singing Billie Jean is amazing😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/QT5zVkTVzG
— Footballism™ (@FootbaIIism) August 10, 2022
Aidan Hutchinson bringing everyone to their feet and together in singing Billie Jean is probably a top-10 Detroit Lions moment of the past decade.
— Ryan Mathews (@Ryan_POD) August 10, 2022
Hutchinson would have been the first pick if the Jags had asked him to sing at the Combine
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) August 10, 2022
The entire Lions team singing Billie Jean along with Aidan Hutchinson is a top 10 all-time #HardKnocks moment.
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) August 10, 2022
Why is no one talking about the best part of this Aidan Hutchinson singing clip? Dude in the 2nd row rips his shirt off, throws it to the front row and the dude in the yellow no look catches it and immediately starts waving it. Most electric moment of the episode. pic.twitter.com/sqAzxxEwkc
— MCS (@FreeMotorcadeee) August 10, 2022
That Aiden Hutchinson performance of Billie Jean might be the greatest #HardKnocks moment ever.
— JohnnyKeil (@JohnnyKeil617) August 10, 2022
They will play ‘Billie Jean’ in the streets of Detroit FOR YEARS if Aidan Hutchinson brings this city a Super Bowl
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 10, 2022