A Look At The Detroit Lions Legend’s | Bobby Layne (1950-1958)

Bobby Layne: The Detroit Lions’ Iconic Quarterback

Bobby Layne is a former NFL quarterback who spent much of his career with the Detroit Lions. He is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He was a beloved figure among Detroit Lions fans, until he “cursed” the Lions after his trade to Pittsburgh.

As much as Layne had a “gunslinger” reputation, he was the innovator of the hurry up offense, known as the 2-minute drill. He was also a notorious partier in an era when hard-drinking quarterbacks were considered a “normal thing.”

“When Bobby Layne said ‘block,’ you blocked, and when he said ‘drink,’ you drank,” teammate Yale Lary said of Layne.

Career

Bobby Layne was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1948 NFL Draft. He spent several seasons with the Bears before being traded to the New York Bulldogs. After one season with the Bulldogs, Layne was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he would spend most of his career. During his time with the Lions, Layne established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league and helped lead the team to three NFL Championships.

Stats

Bobby Layne’s stats are impressive, especially considering the era in which he played. He threw for over 19,000 yards and 118 touchdowns in his career. He ranks in the top 50 all-time in NFL history in passing yards and touchdown passes. Layne was also known for his ability to lead his team to victories, helping lead the Lions to three NFL Championships during his time with the team.

The Curse | Bobby Pledged 50 Years

The Detroit Lions were an NFL power in the 1950s. Their fortunes flipped, however, after trading future Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958 after winning three titles in the six years. 

 “When he found out he got traded, he might have been a little angry and he said something to the effect that the Lions won’t win a championship for 50 years,” Layne’s son, Alan, told the Detroit Free Press.

Since Layne’s departure, the Lions haven’t even appeared in a Super Bowl, NFL Championship Game or even won a single playoff game. If Layne indeed cursed the Lions for a half-century, the hex has had even greater staying power. Rather than return to greatness in 2008, Detroit became the first NFL team to post an 0-16 record while the Steelers won the Super Bowl. What is even more strange was the subsequent drafting of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who attended the same Texas high school as Layne and even grew up on the same street as Layne. This too failed to reverse the fortunes for the Lions.

Read a follow up to this article here >> The Legend, The Curse & The Cure Of Bobby Layne

Awards

Bobby Layne’s play earned him recognition from the NFL and its fans. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1958. Layne was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, making him one of the first players to receive this prestigious honor.

In conclusion, Bobby Layne 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. Layne’s 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 quarterbacks to ever wear the Lions uniform. His leadership and ability to lead his team to victories will always be remembered as some of the defining characteristics of his career. Layne will always be remembered as a Detroit Lions legend and one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Career Highlights & Awards

• 3× NFL champion (1952, 1953, 1957)
• 2× First-team All-Pro (1952, 1956)
• 4× Second-team All-Pro (1953, 1954, 1958, 1959)
• 6× Pro Bowl (1951–1953, 1956, 1958, 1959)
• 2× NFL passing yards leader (1950, 1951)
• NFL passing touchdowns leader (1951)
• NFL completion percentage leader (1955)
• NFL scoring leader (1956)
• NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
• Pride of the Lions
• Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team
• Detroit Lions All-Time Team
• Detroit Lions No. 22 retired
• Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team
• Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor
• Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Consensus All-American (1947)
• Second-team All-American (1946) Texas Longhorns No. 22 retired

Career NFL statistics

• 3700       | Passing attempts
• 1814       | Passing completions
• 49.0%    | Completion percentage
• 196         | Touchdowns
• 243         | Interceptions
• 26,768   | Passing yards
• 63.4        | Passer rating