All-Time Detroit Lions Team

The Detroit Lions are one of the league’s oldest teams. Only the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants are older. From 1928 to 1933, the squirrelly little Lions that we know today were the Portsmouth Spartans. They played for a title in 1933, lost it, and moved to Detroit in 1934. We think of the Lions as annual slappies but they have a strong NFL past. They won their first NFL title in 1935 with an incredible running game. Some of their rushing stats still stand. They rocked the league in the 1950s. Few coaches routinely got the better of Paul Brown. Buddy Parker was one of of them. He should have a bust in Canton. Parker’s Lions beat Brown’s Browns in the 1952 and 1953 NFL Championship games. The Lions won their fourth NFL title in 1957. The Detroit Lions damn near had a dynasty in the 1950s. Only the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts would debate the Lions claim to the decade. On the eve of the Vikings big game against the Lions, here’s a look at some of the best players in the usually dismissed, but strong, history of the Detroit Lions.

All-Time Detroit Lions Team

Offense

Quarterback
Bobby Layne

Running Back
Barry Sanders

Fullback
Nick Pietrosante

It’s tough to leave Ace Gutowsky off this team. He was a big reason for the Lions ridiculous running game of 1935. 

Tailback
Dutch Clark

Dutch Clark must be on a Detroit Lions All-Time Team.

Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson
Herman Moore

Tight End
Charlie Sanders

Tackles
Lou Creekmur
Lomas Brown

Guards
Ox Emerson
Dick Stanfel

Center
Alex Wojciechowicz

Defense

Defensive Ends
Al Baker
Robert Porcher

Defensive Tackles
Alex Karras
Roger Brown

Linebackers
Chris Spielman
Joe Schmidt
Wayne Walker

Cornerbacks
Dick “Night Train” Lane
Lem Barney

Safeties
Jack Christiansen
Yale Lary

Special Teams

Kicker
Jason Hanson

Punter
Yale Lary

Kick Returner
Mel Gray

Punt Returner
Jack Christiansen