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Detroit Lions flag (Photo by dean bertoncelj on Shutterstock)
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Best Lions Players Of All Time: Top 5 Legendary Detroit Athletes, According To Fans

October 22, 2023
by Matthew Sherdan

The Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) were founded in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans before relocating to Detroit and changing their name to the Lions in 1934. The Lions are one of the oldest teams in the NFL, and although they have never won a Super Bowl in the modern era, the Lions are part of the fabric of America and a member of our extended families. We all get to watch the Lions play on Thanksgiving every year, and we’ve all had a chance to witness the best Lions players of all time at some time or another. 

So, before we dive into the list of the best Lions players in franchise history, let’s take a moment to appreciate the luxury of watching professional sports with our friends and family. Well, watching sports with friends and family isn’t always a luxury. In fact, sports can cause some people to lose friends and alienate family members. A recent study found that sports fans are willing to end friendships over sports. A survey of 2,000 American football fans found that a staggering 52 percent of respondents are willing to call it quits with a friend because that person cheers for a rival football team.

If that’s not enough, sports fans are also known to be superstitious. As a matter of fact, a recent study suggests that over half of sports fans are superstitious. A survey of 2,400 American sports fans found that 62 percent of fans have blamed themselves for their team’s loss. Furthermore, nearly 40 percent of those fans feel like a family member is bad luck and have even asked that person to leave on game days. Let’s just make sure Uncle Bob is busy eating his turkey and pumpkin pie when the Detroit Lions are playing this Thanksgiving. 

So, which players are considered the greats in this Detroit franchise? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 sports and football-oriented websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best Lions players of all time. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed players across these sites. Think one of your all-time favorites got snubbed? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

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Football (Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash)

The List: Best Lions Players, According to Experts

1. Barry Sanders

Easily topping the list of the best Lions players of all time is none other than the legendary Barry Sanders. Sanders is widely regarded as one of the best running backs to ever play in the NFL, and he just might be the most iconic athlete to ever play in the great city of Detroit. 

“Was there any question who would be number one? Sanders is in the conversation for the greatest running back of all time and the most exciting football player at any position. Like Megatron, the depressing nature of being a Lion drove him to an early retirement, which may be the only reason he didn’t retire with the all-time rushing mark,” writes M Live. 

Undoubtedly, Sanders was one of the top running backs during his era and he’s easily one of the most entertaining runners NFL fans have ever seen. Sanders has hours of highlight reels to his name, and he was great at making defenders look silly as they tried to tackle him in the open field.  

“Easy. Obvious. I don’t even take any pride in claiming this… The man is respected, not just by Lions fans, but by football fans as a whole, as one of the greatest to play the game… The man has been retired for over a decade now, and he still gets an outpouring of love in what should be a hostile environment as though he were still one of the NFL’s most popular players. Maybe he is,” explains Bleacher Report. 

For the record, Sanders is still one of the most popular NFL players and you’ll find NFL fans wearing his jersey in stadiums across the country. Regardless of popularity, Sanders was insanely productive as a running back. 

“Sanders was a pretty obvious choice as the greatest Lion ever. No. 3 on the all-time NFL rushing list, Sanders was a highlight reel run waiting to happen with every carry. He never finished worse than 5th in rushing yards and won 4 rushing titles. Sanders made 10 Pro Bowls, 6 first-team All-Pro nods, one MVP and was the RB on the All-Decade team of the 1990s. He did it with a quiet class that belied his superhuman ability to make tacklers miss,” furthers Lions Wire. 

2. Joe Schmidt

The next name on the list of the best players in Detroit Lions history takes us back several decades – linebacker Joe Schmidt. He played in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, but he was a transcendent player at the linebacker position. 

“Joe Schmidt was drafted in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL Draft by the Lions. He was joining a defense that was already strong, but they needed another good linebacker. By the 1956 season, Schmidt was elected a team captain, something he was until he hung up the cleats after the 1965 season. Tackles weren’t an official stat back when Schmidt played, but he was one of the best of his time at doing that. Twice he was also named the best defender in football,” explains Clutch Points. 

Schmidt was a big linebacker for his era, standing 6’ 1” tall and weighing over 220 lbs. His size and stature made him one of the most feared tacklers in the league. 

“Joe Schmidt is without question the greatest linebacker ever to suit up for the Detroit Lions. Schmidt is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He helped lead the Lions to two NFL championships and will always be known as one of the toughest players ever to play in the NFL,” adds Detroit Sports Nation. 

After his playing career was finished, Schmidt went on to be the head coach of the Detroit Lions. It was nothing new for players to become coaches after their careers were finished, so Schmidt was a natural fit for that role. 

“His running of the team defense made him a natural to coach, and he would helm the Lions from 1967 to 1972. Schmidt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, and his number 56 was retired by the team. He was also appropriately part of the first class of the Pride of the Lions class in 2009. Schmidt also was part of the ultimate NFL honor, when he was named to the 100th Anniversary Team,” writes Not in Hall of Fame. 

3. Calvin Johnson

Leaping into the third spot on the list of the best players in Lions franchise history is the legendary Calvin Johnson – also known as Megatron. Johnson is one of the most intimidating athletes to ever play the wide receiver position, and he’s easily one of the best Lions players of all time. 

“Megatron holds all of the Lions’ major receiving records — most receptions, yards and scores. No. 81 is a specimen unlike any other at wide receiver. Johnson owns the NFL single-season record for receiving yards (1964). The Georgian great achieved Hall of Fame status in 2021,” writes BVM Sports. 

Johnson played his college football career at Georgia Tech University, and although he was a great college player, no one could have predicted he’d be as dominant and as successful as he was with the Lions. Prior to drafting Johnson, Detroit struggled with the wide receiver position. It’s just unfortunate that Johnson’s career was cut short. 

“Calvin Johnson’s sudden retirement in 2015 at age 30 was not only a great loss for Lions fans, but for fans of the NFL as a whole. Megatron made the Pro Bowl in each of his final six seasons, including his incredible 2012 campaign in which he tallied 122 receptions and 1,964 yards, both tops in football. He would play in just two postseason games but was no shrinking violet. In fact, Johnson delivered one of the better playoff performances by a wide-out in recent memory in 2011, when he went for 211 yards on 12 receptions in a 45-28 loss in the Wild Card round against the New Orleans Saints,” explains Twinspires Edge. 

Johnson only played in two playoff games in his entire career. It’s not like the Lions didn’t have talent, though. Johnson had one of the best quarterbacks in Lions history throwing him the ball in Matthew Stafford, but despite the connection the two all-pros had with one another, they simply couldn’t get the Lions to the promised land. 

“His nickname was absolutely fitting considering he literally played like he was not human. The second pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Calvin made an immediate impact. In the two seasons before Stafford arrived, Megatron recorded 2,087 yards and 16 touchdowns. When Stafford arrived, it was history. Megatron had over 1,000 yards in six straight seasons. From 2011-2016, he earned pro bowl honors in each season and was named first-team all-pro three times. Megatron is also the Lions franchise leader in yards and receptions,” adds Woodward Sports Network. 

4. Bobby Layne

The fourth spot on the list of the best Lions players in history belongs to the great Bobby Layne. Along with Matt Stafford, Layne is considered one of the two best quarterbacks to ever play in Detroit, and some will even claim he’s the very best. Layne won a championship for the Lions and he was a sight to behold on the football field. 

“Bobby Layne was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1948 NFL Draft. Layne went on to join the Detroit Lions in 1950 and is recognized by most as the best quarterback in the history of the team. Layne led the Lions to three NFL championships, including their most recent in 1957. Layne was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and was named a member of the NFL 1950’s All-Decade Team,” explains Detroit Sports Nation. 

Layne was beyond tough as a football player, but more importantly, Layne was a winner. Layne led the Lions to a staggering three NFL Championships during his time in Detroit, and he’ll always be remembered for bringing the city of Detroit those championships. 

“Layne was tough in the kind of way that no quarterbacks are anymore. In fact, he was tougher as a quarterback than most players today in any position. We’re talking about a guy who opted not to wear a facemask, in an era when everybody was starting to wear facemasks. But never mind toughness, we’re also talking about a guy who delivered championships to the Detroit Lions. If that alone doesn’t make him one of the greats, what does? Perhaps being enshrined in the Hall of Fame helps,” furthers Bleacher Report. 

The Lions were one of the top NFL teams throughout the ‘50s and Layne was a big reason for the team’s success in that era. Layne didn’t just contribute with his arm, though. The prolific passer was also a great kicker.  

“Layne was the starting QB for the most successful era in Lions history, earning 3 first-team All-Pro nods and a spot on the All-Decade team of the 1950s. He was a top-5 passer six times in eight years in Detroit. Just for kicks, he was also a top-10 kicker three times. Layne was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967,” adds Lions Wire. 

5. Lem Barney

Rounding out the list of the best players in Lions franchise history is none other than the great Lem Barney. Barney is by far the best cornerback to ever suit up for the Lions, and he’s remembered as one of the top players in Lions history. 

“The 6-foot standout from Jackson St. made his presence felt from the start. The Mississippi native earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He’s No. 2 all-time with 56 INTs for the Lions. Plus he ranks third with 17 career fumbles recovered. Barney drew first-team All-Pro distinction twice as a Lion. He recorded 11 TDs in total on defense and special teams.  Barney got called to Canton for his Hall of Fame induction in 1992,” writes BVM Sports. 

Barney was one of the first professional football players from Jackson St. and he helped pave the way for the likes of Walter Payton to shine in the NFL. Still, Barney was a true shutdown corner and an incredible all-around athlete. 

“Lem Barney was the first of the greats to wear No. 20 for the Detroit Lions, and in some circles, he’s still considered the best. Barney was a shutdown corner who led the NFL in interceptions his rookie year, but was also highly proficient as a kick returner. He is among the Lions’ all-time leaders in both areas. Between his kick returns and defensive scores, Barney scored 11 touchdowns in his 11-year career,” adds Bleacher Report. 

Barney had one of the best rookie seasons Lions fans have ever seen, and his impact on the Lions’ defense was immeasurable. Barney was a feared cover corner who NFL quarterbacks did not want to throw at. 

“Coming out of Jackson State, Cornerback, Lem Barney made an immediate impact for the Lions winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and leading the NFL in Interceptions.  He wouldn’t duplicate that feat as opposing offensive coordinators knew to avoid him like the plague but he was still a seven-time Pro Bowler with 56 total picks and over 1,000 Interception Return Yards.  Barney was also a major asset on the return game,” furthers Not in Hall of Fame. 

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