Most Famous Detroit Lions Players

A deck by Hana Wexler · 20 cards

The most renowned players ever to play for the Detroit Lions, ranked by Wikipedia reach.

David Akers

David Roy Akers is an American former professional football player who was a kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He began his career in 1998 with the Washington Redskins. The following year, he signed with the Eagles, where he spent 12 seasons. Akers was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions before retiring in 2013.

Jared Goff

Jared Thomas Goff is an American professional football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting Pac-12 Conference single-season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Goff was selected with the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL draft. He had a breakout season in 2017, leading the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 2004. The following year, Goff led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. He received Pro Bowl honors in both seasons.

George Plimpton

George Ames Plimpton was an American writer. He is known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review, as well as his patrician accent. He was known for "participatory journalism," including accounts of his active involvement in professional sporting events, acting in a Western, performing a comedy act at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and playing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and then recording the experience from the point of view of an amateur.

Ollie Matson

Ollie Matson is a American football player and sprinter (1930–2011).

Jim Harbaugh

James Joseph Harbaugh is an American professional football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 2015 to 2023, the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, Stanford University from 2007 to 2010, and the University of San Diego from 2004 to 2006. Harbaugh played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986 and in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons from 1987 to 2000, with his longest tenure (1987–1993) as a player with the Chicago Bears.

Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells is a American football coach (born 1941).

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh is a American football player (born 1987).

Earl Morrall

Earl Morrall is a American football player, quarterback (1934-2014).

Night Train Lane

Richard Lane, commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American professional football cornerback who played for 14 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953), the Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), and the Detroit Lions (1960–1965).

Desmond Howard

Desmond Kevin Howard is an American sportscaster and former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1991, and was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. Howard spent most of his career on special teams as a return specialist and holds the NFL single-season record for punt return yardage. With the Green Bay Packers, Howard was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI after returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, the longest return in Super Bowl history at the time. He is the only special teams player to receive the award. Howard was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Since 2005, he has served as an analyst on ESPN College Gameday.

Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis is a American track athlete and football player (1934-2009).

Reggie Bush

Reginald Alfred Bush II is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors twice and winning the 2005 Heisman Trophy. Bush is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all time.

T. J. Hockenson

T. J. Hockenson is a American football player (born 1997).

Leland D. Melvin

Leland Devon Melvin is an American engineer and a retired NASA astronaut. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129. Melvin was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010. Prior to joining NASA, he was a professional football player.

Glenn Morris

Glenn Edgar Morris was a U.S. track and field athlete. He won a gold medal in the Olympic decathlon in 1936, setting new world and Olympic records. He attended Colorado A&M — now known as Colorado State University — and played football as well as track and field. He was also an occasional actor, portraying Tarzan in Tarzan's Revenge.

Barry Sanders

Barry David Sanders is an American former professional football running back who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns once. Standing at 5 ft. 8 in. tall and weighing 200 lbs., he established himself as one of the most elusive runners in the history of the NFL with his quickness and agility. Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson is a American football player (born 1985).

Byron White

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and American football player (1917–2002)

Alex Karras

Alex Karras is a American football player, sportscaster and actor (1935–2012).

Clyde Scott

Clyde Scott is a American hurdler and football player (1924-2018).