Few major sports franchises have a more ignominious past than the Detroit Lions. With only one postseason victory
in the last 66 years, the Curse of Bobby Layne has reached overtime. Nonetheless, the Lions have been fortunate to
have several outstanding players over the years, including 14 inductees and five on the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Here’s my list of the top ten Lions of all time:
Herman Moore was one of the best pass catchers in the mid-1990s, trailing only Jerry Rice and Cris Carter, but his
career peak was too brief. The same is true for star running backs Doak Walker and Billy Sims, whose careers lasted
just half a decade. Charlie Sanders was a Hall of Fame tight end, but his statistics diminish in the modern day.
Lomas Brown makes a good case for the Hall of Fame, but if he hasn’t even made it to Canton, he won’t make it on
my list. Night Train Lane and Ndamukong Suh are both among the greatest ever at their positions, although they
only spent part of their careers with the Lions.
(Lane’s final six years; Suh’s first five seasons). Jason Hanson and Eddie Murray were both excellent long-term
kickers, but they are still kickers. Matthew Stafford holds every Lions passing record, yet he was a solid quarterback
who was never great, and he didn’t win anything until he left Detroit.
