Stafford, Sanders and “Megatron” star on Lions all-time team
Stafford, Sanders and “Megatron” star on Lions all-time team
The Detroit Lions have never played in a Super Bowl and their most recent NFL Championship came in 1957. However, their greatest offensive stars are from the modern era: quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Barry Sanders and wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. The club also has Hall of Famers at several key positions, making this a formidable team to face despite the lack of titles.
Head Coach: Raymond “Buddy” Parker finished with a 47-23-2 record and led Detroit to a pair of championships in six seasons. The Lions defeated the Browns in the title game both years, including 1953, when a late Bobby Layne scoring pass gave them a 17-16 win. The teams met for the championship a third straight year in 1954, which the Browns won in dominating fashion. George Wilson (53-45-6) took over after Parker abruptly left before the 1957 season and led the Lions to their fourth and final championship with a blowout win over Cleveland. George “Potsy” Clark went 53-25-7 in nine seasons and led the team to its first title, a 26-7 victory over the Giants in 1935. Despite having a losing record, Wayne Fontes (66-67) is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins. He led the Lions to their greatest success in the Super Bowl era, a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 1991. Detroit also made the playoffs from 1993-95 under Fontes, but lost in the Wild Card round each time. Joe Schmidt went 43-34-7 in six seasons and led the team to the playoffs in 1970, their first postseason appearance since the 1957 title. Monte Clark (34-61-1) took Detroit to the playoffs twice, but the Lions lost both games.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford has thrown for franchise records with 38,526 yards and 237 touchdowns in 10 seasons. He missed most of 2010 after shoulder surgery, then was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2011 with 5,038 yards and 41 scores. The 2014 Pro Bowler has seven seasons with 4,000 or more yards. Hall of Famer Bobby Layne was a three-time champion, a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro in the 1950s. He is second in both yards and touchdowns in team history, and he led the league with 2,403 yards and 26 scores in 1951. Scott Mitchell was third in passing yards and was blessed with some great receivers in the mid-1990s. He threw for 4,338 yards and 32 touchdowns in 1995. Greg Landry was a Pro Bowler in 1971, but spent more time off the field than on from 1973-75. He was the Comeback Player of the Year in 1976.
Running Back: Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ranks third in NFL history with 15,269 yards to go along with 99 touchdowns. He was the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1997, when he ran for 2,053 yards and is one of only seven players to reach the mark. Sanders made the Pro Bowl and ran for 1,000 or more yards in each of his 10 seasons, and he was an All-Pro six times. He was the third pick and the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1989 and he led the league in rushing four times. Another Hall of Famer, Earl “Dutch” Clark, was the team’s first superstar. The former Spartan was a Pro Bowler in each of his six full seasons and was a big part of the team’s first championship in 1935. Clark also led the league in rushing touchdowns three times. Billy Sims ranks second in team history with 5,106 yards and 42 scores. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing 1,303 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns in 1980. His career was cut short by a knee injury after just five seasons. “Superstar” Mel Farr was a two-time Pro Bowler who ran for 3,072 yards and 26 scores in seven seasons. He was also the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1967. Dexter Bussey was a close third in rushing yards with 5,105 in 11 seasons, including a career-high 924 in 1978. Altie Taylor ran for 4,297 yards and 24 touchdowns in seven seasons.
Fullback: Nick Pietrosante was a two-time Pro Bowler who ranks fifth with 3,933 yards and fourth with 28 touchdowns. LeRoy “Ace” Gutowski ran for 3,077 yards and 20 scores in seven seasons and was a member of the 1935 Championship team. James Jones ran for 3,452 yards, with career-highs of 903 yards and eight touchdowns in 1986. Cory Schlesinger played 181 regular season and three playoff games in 12 seasons in Detroit.
Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson was dominant during his nine seasons with the Lions, setting team marks with 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, and 83 touchdowns. “Megatron” was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Among his seven 1,000-yard seasons was his league-record 1,964-yard performance in 2012. Detroit featured a triple threat at the position in the mid-1990s. Herman Moore was second with 670 catches, 9,174 yards and 62 scores in 11 years. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and he had 1,686 yards in 1995. Johnnie Morton is third in receptions (469), yards (6,499) and tied for third with 35 touchdowns. Brett Perriman had 5,244 yards, including 1,488 in 1995. Gail Cogdill was a three-time Pro Bowler who finished with 5,221 yards and 29 scores in nine years. Terry Barr was a rookie when the team won its final championship in 1957. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL with 13 touchdowns in 1963. Golden Tate went to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and had 90 or more catches in four of his five seasons with Detroit. Roy Williams had 1,310 yards in his 2010 Pro Bowl season.
Tight End: Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders totaled 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns in 10 seasons. He was named to seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. Three-time Pro Bowler Jim Gibbons had 3,561 yards and 20 scores in 11 years. David Hill was a member of the 1976 All-Rookie Team and went to a pair of Pro Bowls in seven seasons.
Tackle: Lou Creekmur is a Hall of Famer and a three-time champion. He made eight Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams in 10 seasons. Lomas Brown was a six-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1995. He started in the 1991 NFC Championship Game. Jeff Backus was a member of the 2001 All-Rookie Team and played in 191 games, fifth-most in team history. Keith Dorney was a 1979 All-Rookie team member and a Pro Bowler in 1982. Rocky Freitas played in 121 games in 10 seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 1972. Jack Johnson and George Christensen both started in the 1935 championship season. Johnson was a Pro Bowler in 1939 and Christensen was an All-Pro in 1933.
Guard: Harley Sewell was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time champion in 10 years on the left side. John Gordy played in 134 games over 10 seasons. He went to three Pro Bowls and was a rookie in the 1957 championship season. Hall of Famer Dick Stanfel played only four seasons in Detroit, but won two titles and was twice selected to Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. Gover “Ox” Emerson was a former Portsmouth Spartan who was an All-Pro in five straight seasons and was part of the 1935 title team. Mike Compton appeared in 104 games while splitting time between left guard and center.
Center: Ed Flanagan went to four Pro Bowls and started 139 games in 10 seasons. Kevin Glover was a three-time Pro Bowler in 13 years and he appeared in the 1991 NFC title game. Dominic Raiola was a 2001 All-Rookie Team member who played in 219 games, which ranks third in team history. Hall of Famer Alex Wojciechowicz spent nine of his 13 seasons in Detroit. Charlie Ane made two Pro Bowls and won two titles in the 1950s.
Defensive End: Robert Porcher is the team’s all-time leader with 95½ sacks, including five seasons with 10 or more and 15 in 1999. The three-time Pro Bowler also tops the team list with 18 forced fumbles and ranks fourth with 600 tackles. Tracy Scroggins is third with 60½ sacks, with 9½ in 1995. He recovered seven fumbles and returned two for touchdowns. Al Baker was a three-time Pro Bowler and the Defensive Rookie of the Year and an All-Pro in 1978. Cliff Avril ranks second with 16 forced fumbles and sixth with 39½ sacks, including 11 in 2011. Darris McCord played in 168 games in 13 seasons. He was a Pro Bowler in the 1957 championship season. Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah and James Hall are tied for fifth in team history with 10 forced fumbles. Ansah is a 2013 All-Rookie Team member who is fourth with 48 sacks, with 12 coming in 2017. Hall has 33 sacks, 11½ in 2004. William Gay ranks fifth with 44½ sacks, including 13½ in 1983. Larry Hand played 13 seasons in Detroit and returned three interceptions for touchdowns.
Defensive Tackle: Before he became a film and television star, Alex Karras was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. “Mad Duck” ranked fifth with 16 fumbles recovered, but he was suspended for the 1963 season due to gambling. Despite his reputation as a dirty player, Ndamukong Suh went to four Pro Bowls and was named to three All-Pro teams in five Detroit seasons. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010 after recording 10 of his 36 sacks with the team. Roger Brown went to five Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro in the early 1960s. Doug English was a four-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1982, and he had 13 sacks the following year. Jerry Ball was a three-time Pro Bowler and a 1991 All-Pro. Luther Elliss went to a pair of Pro Bowls and registered 27 sacks. Shaun Rogers was a 2001 All-Rookie Team member who went to a pair of Pro Bowls. Les Bingaman was a two-time champion who played at the now-unused middle guard spot. He was also a three-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler.
Outside Linebacker: Wayne Walker was a three-time Pro Bowler and a 1965 All-Pro. He totaled 14 interceptions and 15 fumbles recovered in 15 seasons. Paul Namoff played in 168 games and went to the Pro Bowl in the 1970 playoff season. Mike Cofer ranks second in team history with 62½ sacks, including 12 in his 1988 Pro Bowl season and 10 more in 1990. DeAndre Levy is third with 632 tackles, and he led the NFL with 121 solos in 2014. George Jamison ranks fifth with 480 tackles to go along with 19½ sacks and nine interceptions. He and Cofer started in the 1991 NFC Championship Game. Charlie Weaver played in 142 games, picked off 15 passes and recovered 11 fumbles in 11 years.
Middle/Inside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Joe Schmidt went to 10 Pro Bowls, and he is the team’s all-time leader with eight All-Pro selections. He was a member of two title teams and registered 24 interceptions and 17 fumbles recovered in 13 seasons. Chris Spielman is the franchise record-holder with 1,138 tackles, including eight years with 100 or more and an NFL-high 195 in 1994. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1991. Mike Lucci returned four of his 21 picks for scores, and he made the Pro Bowl in 1971. Stephen Boyd made two Pro Bowls and had 100 or more tackles four times.
Cornerback: The position features Hall of Famers Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, and Dick “Night Train” Lane. LeBeau is the team’s all-time leader with 62 interceptions, with nine coming in 1970. The three-time Pro Bowler also recovered nine fumbles. Barney ranks second with 56 picks, returning seven for touchdowns. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Lane was a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and he had 21 interceptions in six years. Jim Davis is fifth with 36 picks. He is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time champion. Bob Smith had 29 interceptions while starting at three secondary positions. He won two titles and was a 1952 Pro Bowler. Darius Slay was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2017, when he led the NFL with eight picks.
Safety: Hall of Famers Jack Christiansen and Robert “Yale” Lary starred on three title teams in the 1950s. Lary ranks third with 50 interceptions. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Christiansen is fourth with 46 picks. He was a six-time All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Bennie Blades ranks second in team history with 790 tackles, including three seasons with 100 or more. He was a member of the 1988 All-Rookie Team and a 1991 Pro Bowler. Glover Quin had 19 interceptions, including a league-leading seven in his 2014 Pro Bowl season. Gary Lowe also had 19 picks and was a member of the 1957 championship team.
Kicker: Jason Hanson holds team records with 327 games played and 2,150 points in 21 seasons. The two-time Pro Bowler has 12 seasons with 100 or more points. Eddie Murray had 1,113 points, including a league-leading 121 in 1981. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and both an All-Pro and a member of the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1980.
Punter: Nick Harris is the team’s all-time leader with 694 punts and 29,857 yards, with six seasons of 3,000 or more. Jim Arnold led the NFL and set a team record with 4,110 yards in 1988. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1987. Sam Martin’s 46.1-yard average is the best in team history. Lary led the NFL in average three times.
Returners: Mel Gray ranks first in both punt return (5,478) and kickoff return (1,427) yards and he has seven combined touchdowns. Eddie Drummond is second with 5,026 kickoff return yards to go with six total scores. Christiansen has eight punt return touchdowns. Desmond Howard ranks third with 3,732 kickoff return yards and also returned two punts for scores. Barney contributed on both kickoffs and punts.
Special Teams: Don Muhlbach ranks second with 228 games played in 15 seasons. He made the Pro Bowl as a long snapper in 2012 and 2018.
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-By: Kevin Rakas