Larry Hand

Last updated

Larry Hand
No. 74
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1940-07-10) July 10, 1940 (age 84)
Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school: Butler
(Butler, New Jersey)
College: Appalachian State (1960–1964)
NFL draft: 1965  / Round: 10 / Pick: 132
AFL draft: 1965  / Round: 21 / Pick: 163
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:62.5
Fumble recoveries:8
Interceptions:5
Interception yards:110
Defensive touchdowns:3
Player stats at PFR

Lawrence Thomas Hand (born July 10, 1940) is an American former professional football defensive end who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1977. He was selected as the Lions' most valuable player in 1972.

Contents

A native of Paterson, New Jersey, he played college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and was selected as a first-team NAIA All-American in 1964. He is one of only four Appalachian State football players to have had his jersey number (71) retired.

Early years

Hand was born in 1940 in Paterson, New Jersey, grew up in West Milford, New Jersey, and attended Butler High School. [1] [2] [3] When he began high school, he was five feet, six inches tall, and weighed 135 pounds. He did not play varsity football until his senior year and, even then, was not a starter. [2] [4] After graduating from high school, Hand took a job working as a mason in Butler. [2]

College football

Hand grew to be six feet, four inches tall, and 215 pounds, and enrolled at Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, North Carolina. [2] He began playing college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team in 1962 at age 22 under head coach Jim Duncan. [5] At the end of his junior year in 1963, he was unanimously selected as a first-team tackle on the All-Carolinas Conference football team. [6] He was also selected as the outstanding lineman in the conference. [7] After his senior year, he was selected as the most valuable player in the Carolinas Conference. [8] He was also named to the NAIA All-America team, [9] [10] and was the only player selected as a first-team player on both the offensive and defensive units of the NAIA District 26 team—he was picked as a tackle on offense and an interior lineman on defense. [11] His #71 jersey was later retired by Appalachian State, [5] one of only four Appalachian State jerseys to be retired. [4]

Professional football

In December 1963, the Detroit Lions selected Hand as a "future selection" in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL draft. As a rookie in 1965, Hand share responsibility at the right defensive end position with Sam Williams. [1] [2] He appeared in all 14 games at defensive end for the Lions in the 1965, 1966, and 1967 seasons. [1] On October 1, 1967, he scored his first NFL touchdown on an interception against Cardinals' quarterback Jim Hart. [12] He had a total of two interceptions for touchdowns during the 1967 season. [1]

In September 1968, Hand sustained torn ligaments to his knee in the season opener, underwent surgery, and missed the remainder of the 1968 season. [13] In 1969, he held out for the first two weeks of training camp, but re-signed with the Lions in late July. [14] [15] Hand returned to his position as the Lions' right defensive end, starting all 14 games during the 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 seasons. He had a 62-yard interception return for touchdown in 1970 and was selected as the defensive most valuable player for the 1972 Lions. [16] In 1973, Hand again held out during the early weeks of training camp, finally signing a contract in early August. [17]

In 1974, Hand appeared in 13 games at defensive end for the Lions, eight as a starter. In 1975, the Lions moved Hand from his regular spot at right defensive end to right defensive tackle. He started all 14 games for the Lions at that position during the 1975 season and 10 more in 1976. [1] In May 1975, he was honored with a ceremony in his hometown of Butler, New Jersey, in which he was presented with the key to the city. [18] On November 14, 1976, in the 10th game of the season, Hand injured his knee against the New Orleans Saints and missed the remainder of the season. [19]

In April 1977, Hand tested the waters as a free agent and received an offer from the Houston Oilers. [20] [21] The Lions matched the Oilers' offer, and Hand returned to the Lions. [20] He appeared in all 14 games for the Lions in 1977, but was not a starter. [1] In August 1978, the Lions placed Hand on waivers, ending his NFL career. [22] At the time of his retirement, Hand's 164 games with the Lions ranked fourth in franchise history behind Wayne Walker, Dick LeBeau, and Darris McCord. [23]

Later years

In the early 1980s, Hand moved to the Winston-Salem area in North Carolina. [24] [25] He worked for many years as a stock broker for E.F. Hutton and Co., Inc. and lived in the Winston-Salem area with his wife, Darlene.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doak Walker</span> American football player (1927–1998)

Ewell Doak Walker II was an American football halfback and kicker who played with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons from 1950 to 1955. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Wojciechowicz</span> American football player (1915–1992)

Alexander Francis "Wojie" Wojciechowicz was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL) from 1935 to 1950. He was a two-way player who played at center on offense and at linebacker on defense. He has been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a founder and the first president of the NFL Alumni Association, and was the third player to receive the Order of the Leather Helmet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lem Barney</span> American football player (born 1945)

Lemuel Jackson Barney is an American former football cornerback and return specialist who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1967 to 1977, playing occasionally as a punter as well. He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers from 1964 to 1966. He was selected by the Lions in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft and played. He was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1967, played in seven Pro Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-NFL player in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He has also been inducted into the Detroit Lions Hall of Fame, the Jackson State Sports Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Train Lane</span> American football player (1928–2002)

Richard Lane, commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American football cornerback who played for 14 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953), the Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), and the Detroit Lions (1960–1965).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yale Lary</span> American football player, businessman, and politician (1930–2017)

Robert Yale Lary Sr. was an American professional football player, businessman, and politician. He played for 11 seasons as a safety, punter and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and was also selected for the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Christiansen</span> American football player and coach (1928–1986)

Jack LeRoy Christiansen was an American professional football player who became a college and pro coach. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions as a safety and return specialist from 1951 to 1958. He helped lead the Lions to three NFL championships in 1952, 1953, and 1957 and was a first-team All-NFL player in six of his eight years in the league. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1953 and 1957 and in punt returns for touchdown in 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1956. His eight career punt returns for touchdowns was an NFL record until 1989 and remains the fourth best in league history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Schmidt (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1932)

Joseph Paul Schmidt is an American former professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions for 13 years from 1953 to 1965. He won two NFL championships with the Lions, and, between 1954 and 1963, he played in ten consecutive Pro Bowl games and was selected each year as a first-team All-Pro player. He was also voted by his fellow NFL players as the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1960 and 1963, named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

Wayne Harrison Walker was an American professional football player and sports broadcaster. He played 15 seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), as a linebacker and placekicker. Walker played in 200 regular season games, the second most for a defensive player at the time. He played in three Pro Bowls and was once selected as a first-team All-NFL player. After the 1972 season, he retired as a player and was a sports broadcaster for CBS and the sports director for KPIX-TV in San Francisco from 1974 to 1994. Walker was a weekend sportscaster during the off-season during his later years as a Detroit Lion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Bingaman</span> American football player and coach (1926–1970)

Lester Alonza "Bingo" Bingaman was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Illinois from 1944 to 1947 and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1948 to 1954. He earned trips to the Pro Bowl after the 1951 and 1953 seasons. He was also selected as a first-team All Pro player four consecutive years from 1951 to 1954. At times weighing as much as 350 pounds, Bingaman was the heaviest player in the NFL during his playing career. He later worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions from 1960 to 1964 and for the Miami Dolphins from 1966 to 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloyce Box</span> American football player and businessman (1923–1993)

Cloyce Kennedy Box was an American football player and businessman. He played five years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions, was a member of NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953, was selected as a second-team All-Pro in 1950 and a first-team All-Pro in 1952, and played in the 1951 and 1953 Pro Bowl games. On December 3, 1950, he set Detroit team records with 12 catches, four touchdown receptions, 24 points, and 302 receiving yards. He later became a successful businessman in the oil and gas business in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Pietrosante</span> American football player (1937–1988)

Nicholas Vincent Pietrosante was an American professional football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1959, and a Pro Bowler in 1960 and 1961. Between 1959 and 1965, he set a Lions franchise record with 3,933 rushing yards. He played college football for Notre Dame and was named third-team All-American in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Farr</span> American football player and businessman (1944–2015)

Melvin Farr was an American professional football player and businessman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch Clark</span> American football player and coach (1906–1978)

Earl Harry "Dutch" Clark, sometimes also known as "the Flying Dutchman" and "the Old Master", was an American football player and coach, basketball player and coach, and university athletic director. He gained his greatest acclaim as a football player and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with its inaugural class in 1951 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame with its inaugural class in 1963. He was also named in 1969 to the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team and was the first player to have his jersey retired by the Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Cogdill</span> American football player (1937–2016)

Gail Ross Cogdill was an American professional football split end. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars from 1957 to 1959 and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1960 NFL draft of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Lions, the Baltimore Colts and the Atlanta Falcons. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 1960 and played in three Pro Bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Stanfel</span> American football player and coach (1927–2015)

Richard Anthony Stanfel was an American football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a guard, and his college and professional career spanned more than 50 years from 1948 to 1998. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2016. He was also named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team.

Percy Lee Snow is an American former football linebacker. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans from 1986 to 1989. As a senior, he was a consensus All-American and won both the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award. He was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Paul Peter Naumoff was an American football player. He played college football at the University of Tennessee from 1964 to 1966 and was selected as a consensus first-team All-American at the linebacker position in 1966. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Detroit Lions from 1967 to 1978. He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl after the 1970 season and was named the Lions' defensive most valuable player in 1975. He once played in 142 consecutive games for the Lions and missed only two games in 12 years with the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Studstill</span> American football player (1938–2021)

Patrick Lewis Studstill Jr. was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver, punter and return specialist. He played 12 years in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions (1961–1967), Los Angeles Rams (1968–1971), and New England Patriots (1972). He led the NFL with 457 punt return yards in 1962. In 1966, he led the league in both receiving yards (1,266) and punting yards (3,259). He also tied an NFL record in 1966 with a 99-yard touchdown reception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Mann (American football)</span> American football player (1924–2006)

Robert Mann was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). A native of New Bern, North Carolina, Mann played college football for the Hampton Pirates in 1942 and 1943 and the Michigan Wolverines in 1944, 1946 and 1947. Playing the end position, he broke the Big Ten Conference record for receiving yards in 1946 and 1947. After not being selected in the 1948 NFL draft, Mann signed his first professional football contract with the Detroit Lions, where he stayed for two seasons. He later played for the Green Bay Packers for parts of five seasons until 1954. Mann broke the color barrier for both teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1966 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1966 Big Ten Conference football season. In its eighth year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–4 record, tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 236 to 138.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Larry Hand". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Larry Hand". New Jersey Sports Heroes. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  3. ↑ Presinzano, Jessica. "Celebrities, politicians and athletes who call North Jersey home", The Record (Bergen County) , October 11, 2017. Accessed November 18, 2017. "Larry Hand, formerly of the Detroit Lions was born in Paterson, but grew up in West Milford."
  4. 1 2 "App State greats – Larry Hand". appfans.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "A Big Hand: 'Late Bloomer' Will Have His No. 71 Retired by Appalachian". Appalachian State University. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hand, Tart Unanimous Picks For All-Carolinas Team". The High Point (NC) Enterprise. December 1, 1963. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ "Edwards Pokes A Little Fun At Grid Substitution Ruling". The High Point (NC) Enterprise. December 4, 1963. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ "Wheless, Hand Unanimous Choices". The Daily Times-News. December 14, 1964. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. ↑ "Rowe Selected On 2nd Team All-American". The Daily Times-News. December 23, 1964. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ "Black Named All-America On NAIA Unit". Spartanburg Herald. December 23, 1964. p. 21.
  11. ↑ "Elon Places Four on NAIA District Team". Burlington (NC) Daily Time-News. November 25, 1964. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ "Hand Gets Into Point Act". News-Journal. October 8, 1967. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. ↑ Jack Saylor (September 18, 1968). "Lions Injured End Out for the Season". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. ↑ "Hand Ready to Quit". Detroit Free Press. April 30, 1969. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. ↑ "Lions Have Hand". The Berkshire Eagle. July 26, 1969. p. 19.
  16. ↑ "Hand, Freitas honored as most valuable Lions". Record-Eagle (Traverse City). December 22, 1972. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. ↑ "Lions Finally Get Larry Hand Signed". The Argus-Press (Owosso, MI). August 9, 1973. p. 18.
  18. ↑ Jack Saylor (May 13, 1975). "Lions' Hand Has His Day". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  19. ↑ "Lions' Hand Out for Year". Ironwood Daily Globe. November 19, 1976. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  20. 1 2 Jack Saylor (April 22, 1977). "Lions Match Oilers' Offer, Keep Hand". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  21. ↑ Jack Saylor (February 17, 1977). "'I Hope the Lions Still Want Me' – Larry Hand". Detroit Free Press. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  22. ↑ "2 Lion vets on waivers". Detroit Free Press. August 17, 1978. pp. 1D, 8D – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  23. ↑ "Player Season Finder Query Results". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Carolina's coast is hunter's delight". Detroit Free Press. December 19, 1982. p. 11H – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  25. ↑ "Former NFL player coming here". The Gaffney (SC) Ledger. September 20, 1989. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.