Detroit Lions All-Time Greats
The ten greatest to ever wear the Honolulu blue and silver, ranked from the heart of the Motor City.
Rooted in the Portsmouth Spartans of 1930 and reborn in Detroit in 1934, the Lions delivered four NFL championships and some of the game's most singular talents. These are the ten greatest ever to wear the Honolulu blue and silver, ranked.
- Conference
- National Football Conference
- Founded
- 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans; moved to Detroit and renamed the Lions in 1934
- Home fields
- Tiger Stadium, Pontiac Silverdome (1975), Ford Field (2002)
- Titles
- 4 NFL Championships (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957)
- Division
- NFC North
Widely regarded as the most electrifying runner in NFL history, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns in just ten seasons. He made the Pro Bowl every year he played, earned six First-Team All-Pro nods, and won the 1997 league MVP. No Lion is more synonymous with the franchise.
Nicknamed Megatron, Johnson was the most dominant receiver of his generation. His 1,964 receiving yards in 2012 stood as the single-season NFL record, and he piled up 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns before an early retirement. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2021.
The gritty field general who led Detroit to three NFL Championship Game appearances and titles in 1952 and 1953. Layne was a fearless leader and clutch passer whose toughness defined the franchise's golden era. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1967.
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A pioneering middle linebacker who helped define the position, Schmidt was a ten-time Pro Bowler and won two NFL titles with Detroit. He later coached the team and earned Hall of Fame induction in 1973 as one of the great defenders of his time.
Shop Lions legends →One of the most feared cornerbacks ever, Lane finished his six Detroit seasons as a perennial All-Pro and a punishing tackler. His NFL single-season interception record of 14, set earlier in his career, still stands. He reached the Hall of Fame in 1974.
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A ball-hawking cornerback who intercepted 56 passes across eleven seasons, all in Detroit. Barney was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a dangerous return man who made an immediate impact as a rookie. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
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A versatile triple-threat halfback and kicker, Walker led the NFL in scoring twice and helped Detroit win back-to-back championships in 1952 and 1953. Despite a short career, his production and winning were undeniable. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1986.
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A ferocious interior pass rusher and four-time Pro Bowler, Karras anchored Detroit's defensive line for over a decade. Known for his quickness and intensity, he was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team and remains one of the franchise's most respected defenders.
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The durable left tackle who protected Barry Sanders' blind side for eleven seasons, Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowler in Detroit. A cornerstone of the offensive line known for his strength and consistency, he was a key piece of the team's most explosive years.
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A smooth, reliable tight end and seven-time Pro Bowler, Sanders was one of the best receiving tight ends of his era. He spent his entire ten-year career in Detroit and was later enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2007.
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A big, acrobatic target who once set the single-season reception record, Moore was a four-time Pro Bowler and the franchise's defining receiver of the 1990s. He was the perfect complement to Barry Sanders in Detroit's high-flying attack.
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The tough, tackle-hungry heartbeat of the Detroit defense, Spielman made four Pro Bowls with an all-out, throwback style. His toughness and leadership made him one of the most respected Lions of his generation.
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A dual-threat star who starred at safety and led the league in punting, Lary was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a key figure on the 1950s championship teams. His all-around brilliance made him one of the era's most complete players.
Shop Lions legends →Cards shown are for illustration - a genuine licensed card of each legend. The specific card of any player varies by what's in stock.
Get the Lions All-Time Greats plaque
The franchise's legends together on a solid-wood 12x15 plaque - eight genuine licensed cards under an engraved nameplate, built and ready to hang in your fan cave.
Each plaque is built from genuine licensed cards; the exact card of each player may vary slightly from those pictured. Handmade in the USA · ships nationwide.