News alert: the Detroit Lions finally have a talented football team. No, they don’t have one star who suddenly joined and singlehandedly resurrected the franchise a-la LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers circa 2003. They got better at every position.

While Detroit may not have a rich history of success, the Lions have previous studs from all corners of the roster. See who makes the cut in our list of the best Lions of all time.

As usual, all stats are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and are updated through the end of the 2023 regular season.

Who were the best Detroit Lions players from the 2022 NFL season?

The best players on the Lions 2022 roster include stars on the offensive side of the ball like QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Who are the Detroit Lions best players for the 2023 NFL season?

The best players in the Lions' 2023 starting lineup include defensive studs like DE Aiden Hutchinson and DT Alim McNeill.

Detroit Lions History of Players

Lions football players may not have experienced a ton of winning, but they have left indelible marks on their fans. Who typifies this the most? Barry Sanders, running back extraordinaire of the 1990s.

Famous Detroit Lions Players

Other famous players on the Lions include quarterback studs like Bobby Layne and Matthew Stafford.

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Detroit Lions Players of All Time

  1. Charlie Sanders, 1968-1977

Position: Tight End

Former Lions TE Charlie Sanders is one of the most underrated tight ends in NFL history:

  • 7x Pro Bowler
  • 3x First-team All-Pro
  • NFL 1970s All-Decade team
  • Nine straight seasons of 400+ receiving yards
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame

Despite playing with an underwhelming mix of Detroit quarterbacks, Sanders managed to have a highly successful career. It’s a shame he only made the playoffs once.

  1. Lou Kreekmur, 1950-1959

Position: Offensive Tackle

Former Lions offensive tackle Lou Kreekmur paved the way for the dominant Lions title teams of the 1950s. The 3x NFL champion more than played his part, cracking 6x First-team All-Pro squads and 8x Pro Bowls rosters during the decade.

Kreekmur was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, nearly 37 years after his retirement.

  1. Jack Christiansen, 1951-1958

Position: Safety

Former Lions S Jack Christiansen was arguably the ball-hawk of his generation. The 3x NFL Champion led the NFL in interceptions twice during the 1950s -- he tallied a stunning 12 picks in 1953 and 10 in 1957.

Christiansen’s 12 picks in 1953 are tied for the fifth-most by any player in a single season, only two off former Lions Night Train Lane’s record of 14. His success earned him a bevy of accolades, as Christiansen was a 6x First-team All-Pro and 5x Pro Bowler. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was a member of the 1950s All-Decade team.

  1. Herman Moore, 1991-2001

Position: Wide Receiver

Former Lions WR Herman Moore had a tremendously successful 11-year stay as the #1 wideout in Detroit; unfortunately, he holds hardly any franchise records (blame Calvin Johnson for that).

That shouldn’t dim Moore’s light: the 3x First-team All-Pro twice led the NFL in receptions and topped 1000+ receiving yards every year from 1994-1997. This is particularly impressive when you recall 1) Detroit had a run-first offense with RB Barry Sanders, and 2) Moore rarely had the same quarterback for more than one season.

  1. Lem Barney, 1967-1977

Position: Cornerback

Another past Lions ball-hawk is CB Lem Barney, who started his Detroit career with a bang by leading the league with 10 interceptions in 1967 to take home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Barney would finish with 57 picks in his 11-year Detroit career, returning seven of them for touchdowns. These, alongside his fantastic coverage skills, earned him 7x Pro Bowl trips and 2x First-team All-Pro nods. He’s a member of the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade team and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  1. Bobby Layne, 1950-1958

Position: Quarterback

Ever heard of the curse of Bobby Layne? When Detroit traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers midway through the 1958 season, he vowed Detroit wouldn’t win anything “for another 50 years” He was right.

Layne was a great servant for the Detroit franchise before the trade, shepherding them to 3x NFL titles in the 1950s. While he didn’t have the gaudiest counting stats, he was a 2x First-team All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowler, 2x NFL passing yards leaders, and a member of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade team.

These earned Layne a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  1. Matthew Stafford, 2009-2020

Position: Quarterback

Is it controversial to rank QB Matthew Stafford over QB Bobby Layne? Stafford never won a playoff game in Detroit, made just one Pro Bowl, was never an All-Pro, and achieved a ton of success as a Ram following a blockbuster trade ahead of the 2021 season.

However, Stafford will likely retire with the top six or seven most passing yards of all time. He tallied 4000+ yards seven straight years with the Lions from 2011-2017, highlighted by 5038 in 2011. His 35 total fourth-quarter comebacks (including three years in LA) are the sixth most in NFL history.

Stafford, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, was CLUTCH.

  1. Joe Schmidt, 1953-1965

Position: Linebacker

Former Detroit linebacker Joe Schmidt was the greatest defensive player in Lions history. The Pro Football Hall of Famers accomplishments speak for themselves: the 2x NFL Champion was an 8x First-team All-Pro (the most of any Lion). Schmidt made the Pro Bowl 10x straight seasons from 1954 to 1963, helping him earn a spot on the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade team.

Schmidt also had his hand at coaching the Lions, leading them to playoffs in 1970 for the first time in the Super Bowl era.

  1. Calvin Johnson, 2007-2015

Position: Wide Receiver

If former Lions WR Calvin Johnson spent a few more seasons in the NFL, he would be more universally recognized as perhaps a top two or three receiver ever. He was still incredible: Johnson holds the record for the most receiving yards in a single season in 1964, and he set it with one game to spare.

Johnson formed a magnificent pairing with QB Matthew Stafford. Johnson tallied 1000+ receiving yards every year from 2010-2015 despite dealing with a hoard of injuries. He holds every franchise receiving record, is a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team, and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

  1. Barry Sanders, 1989-1998

Position: Running Back

Who else? Why is former Detroit RB Barry Sanders the best player in Detroit Lions franchise history? His resume could make a dove cry:

  • 1997 NFL MVP, 2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year
  • Most Lions rushing yards, most Lions rushing touchdowns
  • 6x First-team All-Pro, 10x Pro Bowler
  • 4x NFL rushing yards leader
  • Pro Football Hall of Famer, NFL 1990s All-Decade team

Lions’ fans have had to deal with a lot of losing, but they always have Barry Sanders as a one-team, franchise icon to cling onto.

Parameters of Rankings 

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

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