Joe Schmidt, a linebacker and former head coach for the Lions
Dick "Night Train" Lane, a defensive back who played six seasons for the Lions
Barry Sanders, a running back for the Lions
Calvin Johnson, wide receiver for the Lions
Doak Walker, a halfback and placekicker for the Lions

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.[1] The Lions organization are the National Football League's (NFL's) 5th oldest franchise[2] 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.[3] Since the charter induction class of 1963, 24 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 24 inductees, 17 made their primary contribution to football with the Lions, while the other 7 contributed only a minor portion of their career with the Lions.[4] Calvin Johnson was the most recent Lion selected to the Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.[5]

Inductees

Main article: List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Year inducted Inductee Position(s) Seasons with
the Lions 		Career accomplishments
All-Pros Pro Bowls[A] Awards Refs
First-team Second-team
1963 Dutch Clark Quarterback 1931–1932
1934–1938 		6 0 0 [6][7][8][9]
General manager 1936–1938 N/A N/A N/A
Head coach 1937–1938 N/A N/A N/A
1966 Bill Dudley Halfback 1947–1949 4 2 2 [10][11]
1967 Bobby Layne Quarterback 1950–1958 2 4 6 [12][13]
1968 Alex Wojciechowicz Center
Linebacker 		1938–1946 2 0 0 [14][15]
1970 Jack Christiansen Defensive back 1951–1958 6 0 5 [16][17]
Hugh McElhenny Halfback 1964 5 0 6 [18][19]
1972 Ollie Matson Running back 1963 7 0 6 [20][21]
1973 Joe Schmidt Linebacker 1953–1965 8 2 10 [22][23][24]
Coach 1966–1972 N/A N/A N/A
1974 Dick Lane Cornerback 1960–1965 7 0 7 [25][26]
1979 Yale Lary Defensive back
Punter 		1952–1953
1956–1964 		3 2 9 [27][28]
1985 Frank Gatski Center 1957 4 0 1 [29][30]
1986 Doak Walker Halfback
Placekicker
Punter 		1950–1955 4 0 5 [31][32]
1987 John Henry Johnson Fullback 1957–1959 0 2 4 [33][34]
1992 Lem Barney Defensive back 1967–1977 2 0 7 [35][36]
1996 Lou Creekmur Guard/Tackle 1950–1959 7 0 8 [37][38]
1997 Don Shula Defensive backs coach
Defensive coordinator 		1960–1962 N/A N/A N/A [39][40]
2004 Barry Sanders Running back 1989–1998 6 4 10 [41][42]
2007 Charlie Sanders Tight end 1968–1977 3 0 7 [43][44]
2010 Dick LeBeau Defensive back 1959–1972 0 3 3 [45][46]
2013 Curley Culp Defensive tackle 1980–1981 1 4 6 [47][48]
2016 Dick Stanfel Guard 1952–1955 5 0 5 [49][50]
2020 Alex Karras Defensive tackle 1958–1970 3 6 4 [51][52]
2021 Calvin Johnson Wide receiver 2007–2015 3 1 6 [53][54]
2024[B] Dwight Freeney Defensive end 2017 3 1 7 [56][57]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Includes all selections to the NFL All-Star team (1939–1942), the Pro Bowl (1951–present), and the AFL All-Star game (1961–1969).
  2. ^ The 2024 induction ceremony is planned for August 3, 2024.[55]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Detroit Lions Team Facts". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "10 Oldest Teams in the NFL". Oldest.org. April 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Pro Football Hall of Fame: Then and Now (Mission Statement)". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Hall of Famers by Franchise - Hall of Famers | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "Earl (Dutch) Clark". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Dutch Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "Detroit Lions Executives & Owners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Detroit Lions Coaches". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "Bill Dudley". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Bill Dudley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bobby Layne". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  13. ^ "Bobby Layne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Alex Wojciechowicz". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "Alex Wojciechowicz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Jack Christiansen". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jack Christiansen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Hugh McElhenny". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "Hugh McElhenny Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "Ollie Matson". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "Ollie Matson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Joe Schmidt". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  23. ^ "Joe Schmidt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  24. ^ "Joe Schmidt Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Dick (Night Train) Lane". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "Dick Lane Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  27. ^ "Yale Lary". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  28. ^ "Yale Lary Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  29. ^ "Frank Gatski". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Frank Gatski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "Doak Walker". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Doak Walker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  33. ^ "John Henry Johnson". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  34. ^ "John Henry Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  35. ^ "Lem Barney". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Lem Barney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  37. ^ "Lou Creekmur". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  38. ^ "Lou Creekmur Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  39. ^ "Don Shula". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  40. ^ "Don Shula Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  41. ^ "Barry Sanders". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  42. ^ "Barry Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  43. ^ "Charlie Sanders". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  44. ^ "Charlie Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  45. ^ "Dick LeBeau". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  46. ^ "Dick LeBeau Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  47. ^ "Curley Culp". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  48. ^ "Curley Culp Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  49. ^ "Dick Stanfel". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  50. ^ "Dick Stanfel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  51. ^ "Alex Karras". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  52. ^ "Alex Karras Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  53. ^ "Calvin Johnson". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  54. ^ "Calvin Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  55. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame to enshrine seven in Class of 2024". Pro Football Hall of Fame. February 8, 2024. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  56. ^ "Dwight Freeney". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  57. ^ "Dwight Freeney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
Categories