Inspired by my recent trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, I got to thinking about what Lions players could belong in the hallowed halls. There are currently 21 men who spent at least one season with the Lions enshrined in Canton, including Class of 2020 honoree Alex Karras.
Adding Karras crosses the biggest eligible name off the list. The most obvious Detroit standout that deserves enshrinement isn’t quite eligible yet. He’s the headliner here among the eight best retired Lions players not in the Hall of Fame.
This isn’t an argument for any of these players to get into the Hall of Fame, though a couple of them are certainly deserving. It’s honoring some Lions greats who aren’t in and likely never will get enshrinement in Canton.
Calvin Johnson
The mega-talented Johnson will be eligible in 2021, and he likely won’t wait too long before he joins Karras and the others in Canton.
Johnson’s list of accomplishments ad wide receiver made him one of the NFL’s biggest stars despite making just two postseason games in his nine years (2007-2015):
- 3-time first-team All-Pro
- 6 straight Pro Bowls from 2010-2015
- NFL record 1,964 receiving yards in 2012
- NFL record 5,137 receiving yards in a 3-year period (2012-2014)
- 4th in NFL history in receiving yards per game (86.1)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Team of the 2010s 1st-team
Johnson will get in sooner than later.