TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 2, 1994: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Detroit Lions in an NFL football game 24-14 on October 2, 1994 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Cleary/Getty Images)
Which four players are the top legends when it comes to the Detroit Lions?
There was a time that the team from the Motor City was busy appearing in NFL championship games and winning their share as well. The Detroit Lions have captured a total of four league titles, three of those in the 1950s and all of those at the expense of the Cleveland Browns – the other dominating team of that decade.
But there has been no NFL championship since 1957. In fact, the franchise hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991 and there’s been no division title since 1993. And of the four current NFL clubs that have not reached the Super Bowl, the Lions are the only resident of the NFC.
Of course, the team has had some phenomenal players throughout its history. One is obviously wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who become Hall of Fame eligible in 2021. But he is not among the names below, as aren’t Pro Football Hall of Famers Lem Barney, Doak Walker, Jack Christiansen, Dick LeBeau, Alex Karras, Charlie Sanders and Lou Creekmur. Other greats for the Lions include tackle Lomas Brown, wide receiver Herman Moore, linebacker Chris Spielman and kicker Jason Hanson.
All of these phenomenal performer deserve consideration. But when it’s all said and done, which four players (in alphabetical order) are the franchise’s most revered?