A Look At The Detroit Lions Legend’s Alex Karas (1958-1962 | 1964-1970)

Alex Karas | A Detroit Lions Legend & Actor

Alex Karras is a former NFL defensive tackle who spent most of his career with the Detroit Lions. He is widely considered one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history and is a beloved figure among Detroit Lions fans. In this blog post, we’ll look at Karras’ career, his impressive stats, and the awards he earned throughout his time in the NFL.

Career

Alex Karras was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1958 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in the league, earning a starting role and becoming a dominant force in the Lions’ defense. Karras spent 12 seasons with the Lions and was known for his tenacity and physical play on the field.

Stats

Alex Karras’ stats are impressive, especially for a defensive tackle. He recorded 58 sacks in his career, which ranks him in the top 100 all-time in NFL history. Karras was also known for his ability to disrupt the opposing team’s offense and was a key player in the Lions’ defense. He helped lead the team to three NFL Championships during his time with the team.

Karras The Actor

Karras, 77, appeared in more than 35 shows, starting with an appearance on “Daniel Boone” in 1969. His last appearance was on “The Tom Show” in 1998.

Through nearly three decades of work, Karras is best-known for two things: six years on “Webster” and the infamous scene in the 1974 comedy classic “Blazing Saddles.” Karras had a minor but memorable role In “Blazing Saddles” where the very strong and very slow-witted thug Mongo, knocks out a horse with one punch. But he also had other memorable roles: a sheriff in the 1982 movie “Porky’s,” a colorful corporal on a 1974 “M*A*S*H” episode.

In 1968, Karras figured prominently in the film adaptation of George Plimpton’s sports book Paper Lion, playing himself. Three years later, Karras was under consideration for the part of Carlo Rizzi, the duplicitous brother-in-law of the Corleone family, in The Godfather. The role was one of many acting opportunities that developed following his performance in Paper Lion.

Following his release by the Lions in 1971 , he began acting on a full-time basis, playing a backwoods boy turned Olympic weightlifter named Hugh Ray Feather, in “The 500-Pound Jerk,” in 1973. That same year, he was quickly brought in by ABC to replace Fred Williamson as a color commentator for the network’s “Monday Night Football.” Beginning in 1974 as his 1st NFL season, Karras served three years in that role until leaving after the 1976 season. Karras had his most memorable comment during his first game, when he joked that bald Oakland Raiders’ lineman, Otis Sistrunk, who never attended college, was from “the University of Mars.”

Awards

Alex Karras’ play earned him recognition from the NFL and its fans. He was selected to four Pro Bowls and was named the NFL’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1970. Karras was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

In conclusion, Alex Karras is one of the most iconic figures in NFL history. His impressive stats and numerous awards are a testament to his talent and dedication to the sport of football. Karras’ contributions to the Detroit Lions will always be remembered and he will forever hold a place in the hearts of Lions fans as one of the greatest defensive tackles to ever wear the Lions uniform. His tenacity and physical play on the field will always be remembered as some of the defining characteristics of his career. Karras will always be remembered as a Detroit Lions legend and one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history.

Career Highlights & Awards

• 3× First-team All-Pro (1960, 1961, 1965)
• 6× Second-team All-Pro (1962, 1964, 1966–1969)
• 4× Pro Bowl (1960–1962, 1965)
• NFL 1960s All-Decade team
• Pride of the Lions
• Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team
• Detroit Lions All-Time Team
• Outland Trophy (1957)
• 2× First-team All-American (1956, 1957)

Career NFL statistics

• 4      |Interceptions
• 100    | Sacks (Unofficial)
• 161    |161 Games Played