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.
Joseph Paul Schmidt was an American 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, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and chosen as a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.
Jason Hanson is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker who spent his entire 21-year career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football with the Washington State Cougars, he was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft with the 56th overall pick. Hanson holds the NFL record for the most seasons played with one team and also holds multiple kicking and scoring records. Due to his longevity and statistical success, even on many non-playoff teams, Hanson is often cited as one of the most-loved players in Detroit Lions franchise history.
Horatio Benedict Blades Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). A three-time All-Pro, Blades was named to both the Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team and the Detroit Lions All-Time Team. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
Barrett Charles Brooks is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. He played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was part of their Super Bowl XL win against the Seattle Seahawks.
James Ottis “Little Man” Stewart III is an American former professional football player who was a running back for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. Stewart played in the NFL for the Jaguars and Detroit Lions from 1995 to 2003.
Matthew Brent Blundin is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played both college football and basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers. He was a backup in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions during the 1990s.
Luther John Elliss is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes and was recognized as a consensus All-American. Selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, Elliss played professionally for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos of the NFL and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He worked as the defensive line coach at Idaho from 2017 until being named defensive tackles coach at Utah in 2022. He has four sons that also play football: Kaden, Christian, Noah, and Jonah.
Harry Lee Colon is an American former professional football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Missouri, Colon was selected by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1991 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for six years, playing for the New England Patriots (1991), the Detroit Lions, and the Jacksonville Jaguars (1995). He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1995 NFL expansion draft. He had to retire during the 1997 season due to a condition in his neck.
Brenden Michael Stai is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s and early 2000s. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning consensus All-American honors in 1994. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft, and also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins of the NFL.
Peter Clark Mitchell is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was a two-time All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Detroit Lions of the NFL.
Rob Carpenter is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). In college, he played for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Syracuse University Orangemen and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft. He was one of a relatively small class of underclassmen, headlined by Ragib "Rocket" Ismail, to be approved in the NFL's second class of players allowed to declare themselves eligible for the draft despite remaining amateur eligibility. In addition to Carpenter, other headliners among the underclassmen were Herman Moore, Todd Marinovich and Jon Vaughn.
Edward E'Dainia King is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers. and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1991 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Browns and New Orleans Saints.
Ndamukong Ngwa Suh is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he earned All-American honors, and was selected by the Detroit Lions second overall in the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles. He has played in three Super Bowls: Super Bowl LIII with the Rams, Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers, and Super Bowl LVII with the Eagles.
Shawn M. Bouwens is a former American football guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally for the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Louis Angelo Riddick is an American football broadcaster and former safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1991 to 1998. His brother, Robb Riddick, was a running back with the Buffalo Bills for eight seasons. His cousins, Will Lewis and Tim Lewis, also played in the NFL and held management positions for professional football teams. He is a color analyst for ESPN on their college football coverage alongside Bob Wischusen and Kris Budden, and on the #2 team for their NFL coverage alongside Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, and Laura Rutledge. He was previously part of the lead broadcast team, working alongside Steve Levy, Brian Griese, and Lisa Salters.
John Russell Thomas was an American football tackle who played four seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 1946 NFL draft. He played college football at Ohio State University after attending Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia. His playing career ended in 1949 after he suffered a knee injury. Thomas was an assistant coach on the Detroit Lions' 1952 and 1953 NFL Championship teams. After a stint as a broadcaster, Thomas became the team's director of player personnel. He served as the general manager of the Lions from 1967 until his retirement in 1989. He was unpopular with Lions fans for his tough stance at the negotiating table and the scapegoat for the team's mediocrity during his tenure. He died in his sleep on March 19, 1991. The Detroit Lions players wore a silver football shaped patch on the left chest of their jerseys with the initials 'JRT' in his memory during the 1991 season.
Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.
Frank Ragnow is an American professional football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Penei Sewell is an American Samoan professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, where he won the Outland and Morris trophies in 2019.
