List of Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Detroit Lions were founded in 1928, in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and have been based in Detroit since 1934 when the team was relocated and renamed to the Detroit Lions. The Lions organization are the National Football League's (NFL's) 5th oldest franchise and compete in the NFL as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The franchise has won four NFL championships.
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. Since the charter induction class of 1963, 22 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 22 inductees, 17 made their primary contribution to football with the Lions, while the other 5 contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Lions. Calvin Johnson was the most recent Lion selected to the Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.
Inductees
Class | Inductee | No. | Position | Career span | Seasons w/ Team | All-Pros | Pro Bowls | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Dutch Clark | 7 | Quarterback Coach |
1931–1932 1934–1938 |
1931–1932 1934–1938 |
6× First-team All-Pro | 0 | |
1966 | Bill Dudley | 3, 35, 44 | Halfback | 1942 1945–1951 1953 |
1947–1949 | 4× First-team All-Pro 2× Second-team All-Pro |
2 | |
1967 | Bobby Layne | 22 | Quarterback | 1948–1962 | 1950–1958 | 2× First-team All-Pro 4× Second-team All-Pro |
6 | |
1968 | Alex Wojciechowicz | 30, 50, 53 | Center Linebacker |
1938–1946 | 1938–1946 | 2× First-team All-Pro | 0 | |
1970 | Hugh McElhenny | 39 | Halfback | 1952–1964 | 1964 | 5× First-team All-Pro | 6 | |
1970 | Jack Christiansen | 19, 24 | Defensive Back | 1951–1958 | 1951–1958 | 6× First-team All-Pro | 5 | |
1972 | Ollie Matson | 30 | Running back | 1952–1966 | 1963 | 7× First-team All-Pro | 6 | |
1973 | Joe Schmidt | 56 | Linebacker | 1953–1965 | 1953–1965 | 8× First-team All-Pro 2× Second-team All-Pro |
10 | |
1974 | Dick "Night Train" Lane | 81 | Cornerback | 1952–1965 | 1960–1965 | 7× First-team All-Pro | 7 | |
1979 | Yale Lary | 28 | Defensive back Punter |
1952–1953 1956–1964 |
1952–1953 1956–1964 |
5× All-Pro | 9 | |
1985 | Frank Gatski | 22, 52 | Center | 1946–1957 | 1957 | 4× First-team All-Pro | 1 | |
1986 | Doak Walker | 37 | Halfback Placekicker Punter |
1950–1955 | 1950–1955 | 4× First-team All-Pro | 5 | |
1987 | John Henry Johnson | 35 | Fullback | 1953–1966 | 1957–1959 | 2× Second-team All-Pro | 4 | |
1992 | Lem Barney | 20 | Defensive back | 1967–1977 | 1967–1977 | 2× First-team All-Pro | 7 | |
1996 | Lou Creekmur | 76 | Guard/Tackle | 1950–1959 | 1950–1959 | 7× First-team All-Pro | 8 | |
2004 | Barry Sanders | 20 | Running back | 1989–1998 | 1989–1998 | 6× First-team All-Pro 4× Second-team All-Pro |
10 | |
2007 | Charlie Sanders | 88 | Tight end | 1968–1977 | 1968–1977 | 3× First-team All-Pro | 7 | |
2010 | Dick LeBeau | 24, 44 | Defensive back | 1959–1972 | 1959–1972 | 3× Second-team All-Pro | 3 | |
2013 | Curley Culp | 61, 77, 78 | Defensive tackle | 1968–1981 | 1980–1981 | 1× First-team All-Pro 4× Second-team All-Pro |
6 | |
2016 | Dick Stanfel | 60, 63 | Offensive guard | 1952–1958 | 1952–1955 | 5× First-team All-Pro | 5 | |
2020 | Alex Karras | 71 | Defensive tackle | 1958–1970 | 1958–1970 | 3× First-team All-Pro 6× Second-team All-Pro |
4 | |
2021 | Calvin Johnson | 81 | Wide receiver | 2007–2015 | 2007–2015 | 3× First-team All-Pro 1× Second-team All-Pro |
6 |
Footnotes
- a Hugh McElhenny spent only a minor portion of his career with the Lions.
- b Ollie Matson spent only a minor portion of his career with the Lions.
- c Frank Gatski spent only a minor portion of his career with the Lions.
- d John Henry Johnson spent only a minor portion of his career with the Lions.
- e Curley Culp spent only a minor portion of his career with the Lions.