List of Detroit Lions NFL All-Decade Team selections

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Calvin Johnson on an NFL field in a Detroit Lions jersey and helmet.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was one of two selections to the 2010s All-Decade Team.[1]

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC).[2] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[3] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[4][5] The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.[6]

In 1969, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the NFL, the Pro Football Hall of Fame identified NFL All-Decade Teams for the first four decades of the history of the league (1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s).[7] Players were selected based solely on their performance during the specified decade, with accomplishments before or after not considered. After each subsequent decade, a new team was identified, with the most recent being selected for the 2010s.[8] Each team has been selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which is primarily made up of national sportswriters. The Selection Committee is asked to select specific numbers of typical American football positions to construct the team.[7][9]

From the 1920s to the 2000s, each team was split into first-team and second-team selections, whereas the 2010s Team did not make this distinction.[10] While standard offensive, defensive, and special teams positions have always been included, the position names, types of positions, and the number of positions have changed from decade to decade.[7] For example, due to its greatly reduced usage, the fullback position was not included for the 2010s team and a new "flex" offensive position was added instead.[11]

The Lions have had 23 players named to All-Decade Teams, with at least one player named to all but the 2000s Team.[12] The 1950s Team included eight Lions players, the most the Lions have had selected to one All-Decade Team.[12][13] Of the 23 Lions named to All-Decade teams, 16 have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 13 have been inducted into the Pride of the Lions,[14][15] a permanent display at Ford Field meant to honor the team's greatest players.[16] The Lions' most recent selections were Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh as part of the 2010s Team.[17]

Team selections

An image from a 1952 Bowman Gum football trading card depicting a smiling Jack Christiansen in a Lions jersey and no helmet.
An image from a 1952 Bowman Gum football trading card depicting a Yale Lary in a Texas A. & M. jersey and no helmet.
Hall of Fame safeties Jack Christiansen and Yale Lary played five seasons together during the 1950s and both made the 1950s Team.[18]
Key
Symbol Meaning
† Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
‡ Inducted into the Pride of the Lions and Pro Football Hall of Fame
Detroit Lions NFL All-Decade Team selections
All-Decade
Team 		# of Lions
selected 		Player Position[a] Years with
Lions 		Refs
1930s 3 George Christensen Tackle 1931–1938 [19][20]
Dutch Clark ‡ Quarterback 1931–1932, 1934–1938 [19][21]
Ox Emerson Guard 1931–1937 [19][22]
1940s 4 Bill Dudley † Halfback 1947–1949 [23][24]
Pat Harder Fullback 1951–1953 [23][25]
Byron White Halfback 1940–1941 [23][26]
Alex Wojciechowicz ‡ Center 1938–1946 [23][27]
1950s 8 Jack Christiansen ‡ Safety 1951–1958 [28][29]
Dick Lane ‡ Cornerback 1960–1965 [28][30]
Yale Lary ‡ Safety 1952–1953, 1956–1964 [28][31]
Bobby Layne ‡ Quarterback 1950–1958 [28][32]
Ollie Matson † Running back 1963 [28][33]
Hugh McElhenny † Running back 1964 [28][34]
Joe Schmidt ‡ Linebacker 1953–1965 [28][35]
Dick Stanfel ‡ Guard 1952–1955 [28][36]
1960s 2 Lem Barney ‡ Cornerback 1967–1977 [37][38]
Alex Karras ‡ Defensive tackle 1958–1962, 1964–1970 [37][39]
1970s 1 Charlie Sanders ‡ Tight end 1968–1977 [40][41]
1980s 1 Eddie Murray Kicker 1980–1991 [42][43]
1990s 2 Mel Gray Kick returner 1989–1994 [44][45]
Punt returner
Barry Sanders ‡ Running back 1989–1998 [44][46]
2000s 0 — — — [47]
2010s 2 Calvin Johnson ‡ Wide receiver 2007–2015 [48][49]
Ndamukong Suh Defensive tackle 2010–2014 [48][50]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Corresponds to the position identified in each All-Decade Team.

References

  1. ^ Birkett, Dave (April 6, 2020). "Ex-Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh make NFL all-decade team of 2010s". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Astbury, Matt (April 12, 2023). "Why are there divisions and conferences in the NFL? How do they work?". DAZN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Team Facts". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Detroit Lions". National Football League. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "How did your NFL team gets its name? Origins explained for all 32". ESPN. February 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Astbury, Matt (January 15, 2024). "Detroit Lions stadium: What is Ford Field's capacity and does it have a roof?". DAZN. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "NFL's All-Decade Teams". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "All-Decade Teams". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Selection Process". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Williams, Charean (April 6, 2020). "Change to all-decade team eliminates virtual rubber stamp into Hall of Fame". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Kyle Juszczyk not happy fullbacks were excluded from all-decade team". NBC Sports. April 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "All-Decade Teams". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1950s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  14. ^ "Team Greats". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Buczek, Joseph (July 15, 2024). "Detroit Lions to induct Calvin Johnson into Pride of the Lions". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Patra, Kevin (July 15, 2024). "Calvin Johnson Jr. to be inducted into Detroit's Pride of the Lions in Week 4 vs. Seahawks". National Football League. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Birkett, Dave (April 6, 2020). "Ex-Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh make NFL all-decade team of 2010s". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Risdon, Jeff (December 4, 2019). "Lions legends Jack Christiansen, Yale Lary are finalist for safety on NFL's All-Time team". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1930s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "George Christensen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "Dutch Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "Ox Emerson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1940s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Bill Dudley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Pat Harder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Whizzer White Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  27. ^ "Alex Wojciechowicz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1950s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Jack Christiansen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  30. ^ "Night Train Lane Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  31. ^ "Yale Lary Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  32. ^ "Bobby Layne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  33. ^ "Ollie Matson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  34. ^ "Hugh McElhenny Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  35. ^ "Joe Schmidt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "Dick Stanfel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1960s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  38. ^ "Lem Barney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  39. ^ "Alex Karras Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  40. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1970s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  41. ^ "Charlie Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  42. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1980s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  43. ^ "Eddie Murray Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  44. ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 1990s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  45. ^ "Mel Gray Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  46. ^ "Barry Sanders Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  47. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 2000s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams – 2010s". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  49. ^ "Calvin Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  50. ^ "Ndamukong Suh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.