The Detroit Lions have had their fair share of pain in its history. But the struggles the past decades should’t blanket the success built in the franchises’ roots.
Detroit has a full list of players who have left their mark in the NFL, paving the way for the game for how the game is played today. While not all of these local heroes may be household names nowadays, it’s these players who gifted Detroit its four NFL Championships in a single decade.
Honorable Mention | Al ‘Bubba’ Baker, DE, 1978-1982
In his rookie season, Al Baker sacked the opposing quarterback 23 times in 16 games, only none of it counted. The NFL didn’t start recording sacks until 1982, four years after Baker’s rookie campaign, perhaps one of the most dominant rookie seasons ever. Baker won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named First Team All-Pro in 1978. He earned three straight Pro Bowl nods to begin his career, never having less than 16 sacks. Although ‘Bubba’ only played five seasons in Detroit, his accolades can’t go unmentioned.
5. Lou Creekmur, T, G, DG, DT, 1950-1959
Former Lions G/T Lue Creekmur (61)
Wait, you mean to tell me Detroit had the lineman version of Deion Sanders? Not quite. Creekmur came into the NFL as a left guard out of William and Marry. He’d earn Pro Bowl honors in his first two seasons before moving to left tackle for the remainder of his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl each of his first eight seasons in the NFL, all with Detroit. It wasn’t uncommon for the Lions to throw their perennial Pro Bowler on the defensive line for goal-line packages. Creekmur didn’t miss a single game for nine straight seasons and helped the Lions win NFL Championships in 1952, 1953 and 1957.
4. Jack Christiansen, DB, 1951-1958
Former Lions DB Jack Christiansen (24) – NFL Photos/AP 2010
From 1952 to 1957, Jack Christiansen made First-Team All-Pro every opportunity he had, even earning MVP votes in 1954. The Hall-of-Famer eclipsed double-digit interceptions twice in his career, leading the NFL on both occasions. Christiansen returned three picks for touchdowns in his career. Perhaps even more impressive, the three-time NFL Champion has eight career special teams touchdowns, finding the endzone four times his rookie year. Add on two rushing touchdowns and Christiansen rounds his career TD total up to 13. Pretty good numbers for a defensive anchor on three championship teams.
3. Joe Schmidt, LB, 1953-1965
Former Lions LB Joe Schmidt (56) – DETROIT FREE PRESS
On two different occasions, Joe Schmidt, as a linebacker, finished top-5 in MVP voting. Schmidt was a member of the 1950s All-Decades team along with his teammate Jack Christiansen. The three-time champion ripped off 10 straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1954-1963. He retired from playing in 1965 and began his coaching career for the Lions the following season. Schmidt was the linebackers coach for just one season before being promoted to the franchises Head Coach in 1967. He coached for six years and finished with four winning records and one playoff appearance.
2. Calvin Johnson, WR, 2007-2015
Former Lions WR Calvin Johnson (81) – Mike Mulholland/MLive.com
Calvin Johnson may only have three First-Team All-Pro selections and zero playoff wins, but he does have one thing going for him; If you could build a genetically superior receiver in a science lab, he’d be what comes out. His combination of size and speed made guarding him one-on-one hopeless.
In Megatron’s historic 2012 season, the former second overall pick led the league in receiving yards (1,964, an NFL record), receiving yards per game (122.8), and catches (122). However, statistics will never tell the full story of just how much Calvin Johnson dominated his peers. A series of injuries derailed his career earlier than anticipated. He retired just nine years into his career, all of which was played in a Lions uniform.
1. Barry Sanders, RB, 1989-1998
Former Lions RB Barry Sanders (20) – Jeff Kowalsky/Getty Images
Barry Sanders isn’t just the greatest Lions player of all time, but the best running back to ever step on the gridiron depending on who you ask. Like Calvin Johnson, Barry was a human highlight reel. Tackling Sanders in open space was impossible without reinforcements. His quick feel led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing yards per game on four different occasions.
Sanders is one of eight players to rush for 2000 yards in a season, as he ran for 2,053 in 1997, the same season he won both Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. Sanders has one more Offensive Player of the Year award in his trophy case (1994), along with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award he took home in 1989, a year after he won the Heisman at Oklahoma State. His 2628 yards and 37 touchdowns at OSU are records still standing in College Football today.
Sanders led the Lions to their only Super-Bowl era playoff win in 1991. He was the Lions’ offense.
A few more Barry Sanders notes for good record:
- 6x First-Team All-Pro
- 10x Pro-Bowler
- 4x NFL Rushing Champ
- Five seasons with 1500+ yards (record)
- 14 consecutive 100-yard rushing games (record)
- 25 games with 150+ rushing yards (record)
- Two 80+ yard rushing touchdowns in the same game.
