Barry Sanders is an American former professional football running back who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns once, establishing himself as one of the most elusive runners in the history of the NFL with his quickness and agility, despite being only 5 ft 8 in tall and weighing 203 lbs. Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. As a junior in 1988, he compiled what is widely considered the greatest individual season by a running back in college football history, rushing for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games. He won the Heisman Trophy and was unanimously recognized as an All-American.
Billy Ray Sims is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons from 1980 to 1984. Sims played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1978. He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft, selected by the Detroit Lions. After three pro-bowl selections, his career was prematurely ended by a knee injury suffered in 1984.
William McGarvey Dudley, nicknamed "Bullet Bill", was an American professional football halfback, safety and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Lions, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.
Cory Michael Schlesinger is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and current executive for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was selected by the Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft. He was selected to three Pro Bowls.
Stoney Jarrod Case is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for three teams in the National Football League (NFL) and three teams in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football for the New Mexico Lobos.
Gregory Paul Landry is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1981, and again in 1984. He played for the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts and Chicago Bears. He played college football at Massachusetts from 1965–1967. He became an assistant coach after his playing career.
Melvin Farr was an American professional football player and businessman.
Bruce Patrick Bannon is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the early 1970s. He played college football for Penn State University and earned consensus All-American honors. The New York Jets selected him in the fifth round of the 1973 NFL draft, and he played for the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 1973 and 1974.
Richard John Hoak is an American former professional football player and coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Steelers as a running back. Hoak played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL draft. He played for the Steelers from 1961 to 1970, and then became the longest tenured coach in the team's history, from 1972 to 2007.
Dexter Manley Bussey is an American former professional football player who was a running back for 11 years with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1984. He became the Lions' all-time career rushing leader in 1981.
Altie Taylor was an American football running back. He played eight seasons in the National Football League, including seven with the Detroit Lions. He led the Lions in rushing for three consecutive years from 1972 to 1974, appeared in 91 games, 83 as a starter, and in 1975 broke the Lions' career record with 4,297 rushing yards.
William Alan Munson was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1979. He also played college football for Utah State where he set multiple passing records as a senior in 1963.
Herbert Vaughn Orvis was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Colts in a ten-year career that lasted from 1972 to 1981 in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Johnny Musso is an American former professional football player who was a running back for three seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears. Musso played college football at the University of Alabama, where was a consensus selection on the 1971 College Football All-America Team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
William Clarence Triplett is a former American football running back. He played 10 years in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants (1967), and Detroit Lions (1968–72). He also played college football for Miami University Ohio.
Horace Edward King is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Georgia from 1972 to 1974 and professional football in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions from 1975 to 1983.
Tommy Joe Crutcher was an American football player who played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Christian University.
Monroe Eley was a former running back who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
James Ray Jones was an American football defensive back who played one season with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Washington. Jones was also a member of the BC Lions and Oakland Raiders.
Jermar Jefferson is an American professional football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State and was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.
