The NFL career of Billy Sims was only five seasons, but he was hands down one of the most explosive Running Backs of the early ’80s and a bonafide fan favorite, and not just amongst the Detroit faithful.

Known as “The Hatchet” (which is reason enough to rank him on any football list), the small framed Cornerback was one of the most punishing tacklers of his day and a major cog in the wheel of those three NFL Championship Teams in the 1950’s.  It is definitely worth noting that Jim David recorded an Interception in all three of those Lions NFL Championships.  Seriously, how impressive is that!

As part of the “Silver Rush” Defense, Doug English was a very good pass rusher who would record 59 Sacks (though only 25 were official) in a career spent only in Detroit.  English is one of the few players in NFL history to record two safeties in a game and he went to four Pro Bowls.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, Alex Wojciechowicz was a major force in the NFL who spent most of his career with the Detroit Lions.  Playing at Center, End and Linebacker, he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1940’s All-Decade Team.  He would set the single season record (since broken) for Interceptions in 1944 and in the era of sixty minute players was one of the few who excelled at both ends of the field.  He would later win two NFL Championships with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Canton called his name in 1968, ad he was part of the first class of the Pride of the Lions in 2009.