Detroit Lions Hall Of Fame Linebacker Dies At 92

DETROIT — Detroit Lions Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt died Wednesday, according to team officials. He was 92.

Schmidt is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive player in Lions history. He led Detroit to NFL championships in his rookie year in 1953 and again in 1957.

"We are saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Schmidt. Joe was a Lion through and through, having spent his entire career in Detroit, including 13 years as a linebacker and six seasons as our head coach," the Lions said in a statement. "He patrolled the middle of our defense with such ferocity that he was named to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1955 to 1964. Joe was an enduring link to our Championship era and one of the proudest Lions you will ever meet. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and was an inaugural member of our team's ring of honor, the Pride of the Lions, which will ensure his place in our history forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Marilyn, and the entire Schmidt family as we all mourn his passing."

The Lions drafted Schmidt in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL draft. He played college football Pittsburgh Panthers, who retired his No. 65 jersey in 1997.

Schmidt played 155 games for the Lions over 13 seasons that included 24 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns. He led the NFL in fumble recoveries in 1955 with eight, which is tied for second-most in a single season.

Between 1955 and 1964, he was selected to 10 straight Pro Bowls, tied for most all-time for a Lions player.

He also earned All-Pro honors in 10 of his 13 seasons in uniform, the most ever by a linebacker.

Schmidt's No. 56 jersey is retired by the Lions.

After Schmidt retired in 1965 at just the age of 33, he joined Detroit's coaching staff in 1966 as a linebackers coach. He went to become the Lions head coach in 1967.

In six seasons as head coach, Schmidt's Lions teams went 43-34-7 and made the 1970 NFL Divisional playoffs.

Schmidt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.