List of Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame explained

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the North Division of the National Football Conference.[1] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930, making them the fifth oldest franchise in the league.[2] [3] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[4] [5]

In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was created to honor the history of professional American football and the individuals who have greatly influenced it.[6] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 24 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Lions have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Of the 24 inductees, 17 made their primary contribution to football with the Lions, while the other 7 contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Lions.[7] Calvin Johnson was the most recent Lion selected to the Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.[8]

Inductees

See main article: List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.

ClassInducteePosition(s)Seasons with
the Lions
Career accomplishments
All-ProsPro BowlsAwards
First-teamSecond-team
1963 Quarterback19311932
19341938
6001930s All-Decade Team
100th Anniversary All-Time Team
[9] [10] [11] [12]
General manager19361938
Head coach19371938
1966Halfback194719494 22
1940s All-Decade Team
[13] [14]
1967Quarterback195019582 461950s All-Decade Team[15] [16]
1968Center
Linebacker
193819462 001940s All-Decade Team[17] [18]
1970Defensive back195119586 051950s All-Decade Team[19] [20]
Halfback19645 061950s All-Decade Team
100th Anniversary All-Time Team
[21] [22]
1972Running back19637 061950s All-Decade Team[23] [24]
1973Linebacker1953196582101950s All-Decade Team
100th Anniversary All-Time Team
[25] [26] [27]
Coach19661972
1974Cornerback196019657 071950s All-Decade Team
50th Anniversary All-Time Team
75th Anniversary All-Time Team
100th Anniversary All-Time Team
[28] [29]
1979Defensive back
Punter
19521953
19561964
3 291950s All-Decade Team[30] [31]
1985 Center19574 01[32] [33]
1986Halfback
Kicker
19501955405[34] [35]
1987Fullback19571959024[36] [37]
1992Defensive back196719772 07
1960s All-Decade Team
[38] [39]
1996Offensive lineman19501959708[40] [41]
1997Coach19601962[42] [43]
2004Running back198919986410


1990s All-Decade Team
100th Anniversary All-Time Team
[44] [45]
2007Tight end196819773071970s All-Decade Team[46] [47]
2010Defensive back195919720 33[48] [49]
2013Defensive tackle198019811 46[50] [51]
2016Guard195219555 051950s All-Decade Team[52] [53]
2020Defensive tackle195819703641960s All-Decade Team[54] [55]
2021Wide receiver200720153162010s All-Decade Team[56] [57]
2024Defensive end20173172000s All-Decade Team[58] [59]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Why are there divisions and conferences in the NFL? How do they work? . . 2023-04-12 . Astbury . Matt . 27 May 2024 . May 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529171559/https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/american-football/why-are-there-divisions-and-conferences-in-the-nfl-how-do-they-work/1shbb9cpvf4th1iwph93x97hgp . live .
  2. Web site: Team Facts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206112104/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/detroit-lions/team-facts/ . December 6, 2023 . November 10, 2023 . Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  3. Web site: List of all the Pro Football Franchises . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521004529/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/index.htm . May 21, 2024 . live . 8 May 2024 .
  4. Web site: Detroit Lions . . November 10, 2023 . November 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104170345/https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/national-football-conference/north/detroit-lions . live .
  5. Web site: How did your NFL team gets its name? Origins explained for all 32 . . November 15, 2023 . en . February 2, 2022 . June 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607170953/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32814182/how-did-your-nfl-team-gets-name-origins-explained-all-32 . live .
  6. Web site: "This is Football Heaven" . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619164135/https://www.profootballhof.com/about . June 19, 2024 . live . 19 June 2024 . en .
  7. Web site: Hall of Famers by Franchise – Hall of Famers . . https://web.archive.org/web/20181027163654/https://www.profootballhof.com/heroes-of-the-game/franchises/ . 2018-10-27 . live . January 3, 2022.
  8. Web site: Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210207081942/https://www.profootballhof.com/pro-football-hall-of-fames-class-of-2021/ . February 7, 2021 . live . January 3, 2022.
  9. Web site: Earl (Dutch) Clark . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190412113645/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/earl-dutch-clark/ . April 12, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  10. Web site: Dutch Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516033245/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarDu20.htm . May 16, 2024 . live . April 2, 2024 .
  11. Web site: Detroit Lions Executives & Owners . . April 2, 2024 . December 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205140948/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/executives.htm . live .
  12. Web site: Detroit Lions Coaches . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908152413/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/coaches.htm . September 8, 2023 . live . April 2, 2024 . en .
  13. Web site: Bill Dudley . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190507110922/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bill-dudley/ . May 7, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  14. Web site: Bill Dudley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226200937/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DudlBi00.htm . February 26, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  15. Web site: Bobby Layne . . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031091622/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-layne/ . October 31, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  16. Web site: Bobby Layne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406093953/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaynBo00.htm . live .
  17. Web site: Alex Wojciechowicz . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190630070942/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/alex-wojciechowicz/ . June 30, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  18. Web site: Alex Wojciechowicz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . December 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205015846/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WojcAl20.htm . live .
  19. Web site: Jack Christiansen . . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228172936/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jack-christiansen/ . December 28, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  20. Web site: Jack Christiansen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118212236/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChriJa00.htm . January 18, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  21. Web site: Hugh McElhenny . . https://web.archive.org/web/20191227110253/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/hugh-mcelhenny/ . December 27, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  22. Web site: Hugh McElhenny Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030185219/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McElHu00.htm . live .
  23. Web site: Ollie Matson . . January 3, 2022 . May 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508151728/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/ollie-matson . live .
  24. Web site: Ollie Matson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . January 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116132014/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MatsOl00.htm . live .
  25. Web site: Joe Schmidt . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304224052/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/joe-schmidt/ . March 4, 2024 . live . June 19, 2024 .
  26. Web site: Joe Schmidt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516033248/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchmJo00.htm . May 16, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  27. Web site: Joe Schmidt Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222041446/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SchmJo0.htm . February 22, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  28. Web site: Dick (Night Train) Lane . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629213106/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/dick-night-train-lane/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  29. Web site: Dick Lane Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410231632/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaneDi00.htm . April 10, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  30. Web site: Yale Lary . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190630074503/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/yale-lary/ . June 30, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  31. Web site: Yale Lary Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118212435/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaryYa00.htm . January 18, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  32. Web site: Frank Gatski . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701135431/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/frank-gatski/ . July 1, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  33. Web site: Frank Gatski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030155935/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GatsFr00.htm . live .
  34. Web site: Doak Walker . . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227174236/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/doak-walker/ . February 27, 2020 . live . January 3, 2022.
  35. Web site: Doak Walker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . August 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806170857/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalkDo00.htm . live .
  36. Web site: John Henry Johnson . . https://web.archive.org/web/20090218124050/http://profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=106 . February 18, 2009 . live . January 3, 2022.
  37. Web site: John Henry Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . January 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116132011/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnJo02.htm . live .
  38. Web site: Lem Barney . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629210508/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/lem-barney/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  39. Web site: Lem Barney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . January 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117124818/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnLe00.htm . live .
  40. Web site: Lou Creekmur . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629232218/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/lou-creekmur/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  41. Web site: Lou Creekmur Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222205126/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CreeLo00.htm . live .
  42. Web site: Don Shula . . September 11, 2023 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926133658/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula/ . live .
  43. Web site: Don Shula Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515131101/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShulDo0.htm . May 15, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  44. Web site: Barry Sanders . . January 3, 2022 . May 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508151820/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/barry-sanders . live .
  45. Web site: Barry Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409033009/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandBa00.htm . April 9, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  46. Web site: Charlie Sanders . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190731222531/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/charlie-sanders/ . July 31, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  47. Web site: Charlie Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225062800/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandCh01.htm . February 25, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  48. Web site: Dick LeBeau . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629165617/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/dick-lebeau/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  49. Web site: Dick LeBeau Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203042805/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeBeDi00.htm . December 3, 2023 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  50. Web site: Curley Culp . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629213728/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/curley-culp/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  51. Web site: Curley Culp Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030192426/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpCu00.htm . live .
  52. Web site: Dick Stanfel . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629172053/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/dick-stanfel/ . June 29, 2019 . live . January 3, 2022.
  53. Web site: Dick Stanfel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031185541/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StanDi00.htm . live .
  54. Web site: Alex Karras . . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218053617/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/alex-karras/ . December 18, 2021 . live . January 3, 2022.
  55. Web site: Alex Karras Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509204610/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KarrAl00.htm . May 9, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  56. Web site: Calvin Johnson . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210207033051/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/Calvin-Johnson/ . February 7, 2021 . live . January 3, 2022.
  57. Web site: Calvin Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427221252/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnCa00.htm . April 27, 2024 . live . 2 April 2024 .
  58. Web site: Dwight Freeney . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210207033051/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/Dwight-Freeney/ . February 7, 2021 . live . January 3, 2022.
  59. Web site: Dwight Freeney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 2 April 2024 . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221734/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreeDw00.htm . live .