Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Bobby Layne had a lot of self confidence, and for good reason. He was very good and was a real tough competitor. He did not like to lose. Even after their last place finish of 1955, Layne, as well as coach Parker, felt that the Lions could regain the NFL championship, and they almost did in 1956. I ...

....paul brown's offense game plan not only was superb....graham played like what he was, a future hall of famer. one of the score's by graham(running to his right), the browns were aligned in unbalanced right(they almost never did this)and easily blocked the undermanned left side of the lion defen...

....dick stanfel was team mvp in '53. creekmur started at both guard positions when the situation called for it. in all of '54 and the first half of '55 andy miketa started at center. when ollie spencer & creekmur were at tackle in '56....charlie a. though a solid tackle moved to his preferred ...

Thanks for the good responses. Some interesting stuff. Buddy Parker really did have a high regard for Jug Girard. Evidence of that is that one of Parker's first moves after taking the head coaching job in Pittsburgh in 1957 was to trade (again) for Girard. Jug didn't get a lot of playing time at Det...

Another great draft for the Detroit Lions in 1952 as they picked up defensive backs Yale Lary and Jim David, tackle Bob Miller, E/LB Sonny Gandee, tackle Gil Mains, and guard Stan Campbell. Also joining the Lions that year was guard Dick Stanfel, who was drafted as a redshirt in 1951. Another good p...

Coach: It must have been great to hear stories from people like Joe Schmidt. Speaking of Jack Christiansen, my next chapter involves him. I think that Bill Stits became expendable when Yale Lary returned from the military in 1956 and Karilivacz then was moved from right safety to the right corner. I...

Hard to recall a franchise collecting so much value in a single season. a few would be the obvious 74 Steelers, 65 Bears, 83 Bears, but what's great about the Lions is how they sourced those guys from all over the place as opposed to just a great draft. Another interesting Lion year is 58 when they...

The Detroit Lions were a dynasty in the 1950's, winning 3 NFL Championships and 4 Western Conference titles. I would say that this really started in 1950 when the Detroit Lions: 1. Traded for QB Bobby Layne. Layne played in 1949 for the New York Bulldogs, who were one of the worst pro football teams...