Alex Karras
The Detroit Lions had their heyday back in the 1950s, and again in the 1990s. In the 1950s they earned 3 NFL championships, while in the 1990s, they reached the playoffs 6 times! Their last playoff appearance was in 2016, so the Lions are due for another explosive decade.
According to the latest NFL sports betting odds, the Detroit Lions are of the most improved players in the 2022 season. We don’t expect a decade’s worth of accomplishments just yet, but the players are climbing up the league.
Now they are on the rise, we want to look back on the heroes of the team.
1. Barry Sanders – Running Back
Sanders was a Lion through and through. He played between 1989 and 1998, the best decade in the team’s history. This achievement isn’t a coincidence either. The team’s strength came from Sanders.
During his time, he was creating records left, right, and center. To this day, he still holds 10 of the 34 records he created.
They include, but are not limited to:
- Most rushing yards in a season – 2,628
- Most rushing touchdowns in a season – 37
- Most rushing yards per game in a season – 238.9
Over 20 years later, Sanders still holds these records. Incredible!
1. Calvin Johnson – Wide Receiver
Johnson played between 2007 and 2016. During his time he broke NFL records and Lions records like his life repented on it. Most of these records are now tied with other amazing athletes, but his most impressive is this:
- Most receiving yards in a single season – 1,964
He completed that record in 2012, and none has come close to breaking it.
3. Joe Schmidt – Middle Linebacker
Schmidt was both a player for the team and a coach for the team. He played between 1953 and 1965, then switched to coaching between 1967 and 1972.
Although Schmidt was picked 85th in the NFL draft, he became a star player instantly. During his first season, Schmidt helped the team reach the NFL championship, and from then on he was part of the First Team All-Pro.
Everyone was sleeping on Schmidt, but as soon as he had the field, he became an instant favorite.
4. Lem Barney – Cornerback
Barney played between 1967 and 1977. He was added to the Hall of Fame in 1992, which was a long time coming. Although other players had more style on the field, Barney was the reliable player which helped the team achieve success in their time.
5. Doak Walker – Halfback, Punter, Placekicker
Walker was a man of many talents. He played for just 5 years between 1950 and 1955, but in that time he made a massive impact on the team, winning 2 NFL championships and earning the Rookie of the Year award.
6. Jack Christiansen – Safety, Return Specialist
Although Christiansen played between 1951 and 1958 he is still the 4th best player in the career INT category (46) and is one of few players to score 6 straight First Team All-Pro achievements.
7. Robert Porcher – Defensive End
Porcher played between 1992 and 2003, and in our opinion, he was unappreciated in his time. Porcher was a powerhouse player and holds second place for the most sacks on the Lions team.
If you look back on previous games, you’ll see how Porcher stabilized the team but was never given credit. Justice for Porcher!
8. Bobby Layne – Quarterback, Placekicker
Layne is the first player on our list to swap teams throughout his career. He started with the Chicago Bears in 1948, then hit the New York Bulldogs in 1949 before securing a spot with the Detroit Lions.
He stayed with the Lions for 8 years before moving on again to the Pittsburgh Steelers and staying there for 4 years until retirement.
While with the team, Layne helped them reach the NFL championship 3 times, he became the passing yards leader twice and was leading in almost every aspect of the quarterback position.
Layne was the king of the pack.
9. Alex Karras – Defensive Tackle
Playing between 1958 and 1970, Karras was known as a turbo tackler. He still leads the franchise in career stacks, holding onto a proud 100. Just recently Karras was added to the Hall of Fame, but this comes as a surprise to no one. Karras still holds second place for the most fumble recoveries at a proud 18.
10. Yale Lary – Safety, Punter, Return Specialist
Lary played for the Lions between 1952 and 1964. He was there for the 3 NFL championship wins, and throughout his career, he entered 9 Pro Bowl selections. He holds the record for 3rd best INTs in the team with a proud 50 to his name.
Both Lary and Karras were called up for military service during their NFL career, meaning they both lost a few years to war. However, that didn’t stop either of them from becoming legends.
Final Thoughts
Each of these amazing players shows how great the Detroit Lions can be. We haven’t had a winning streak in a long time, but we were once the most dominant team on the field. Looking back at these heroes can help the team remember that strength!
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