One of the first great NFL linebackers. Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions star LB on 1957 champions and ex-coach, dead at 92 https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...oe-schmidt-died-detroit-lions-nfl/3145253001/ Before Campbell, he was the last Lions coach considered really successful.
Starman - You beat me to it. Very, very few left from the "Paper Lion" '63 team - without having the book with me, Dick LaBeau and Milt Plum might be it. Joe Schmidt was one of the Lions' all-time greats.
One-time teammate of George Plimpton. But seriously, true old-time royalty. RIP. I thought this might be out there in the Internets.
Hung around long enough to see the Lions restore their roar. I don't remember him as a player but he coached all those good-but-not-good-enough teams, including the 1970 NFC wild card squad. They always seemed to lose a critical game, usually against the Vikings, and there were a lot of 7-6-1, 7-7 seasons. RIP to a Lion great, a leader on and off the field. If Detroit finally reaches the Super Bowl, there are a lot of former Lions, including Schmidt, who deserve mention for keeping the faith for a franchise that's seen nothing but disappointment for decades.
One of those players that I was surprised was still alive. Way before my time, but my understanding is that he was a helluva player. RIP
I like cars so I liked all the Detroit teams growing up, Lions and Tigers especially. If I recall the Lions in the 60s had bad QBs, Milt Plum, Ninowski etc just weren’t v good comparatively. Always good defensively, but poor quality quarterbacks. Schmidt was a favourite player of mine from seeing him v occasionally on TV but knowing his career history. RIP to ‘mean’ Joe.
In the 50's the NFL was moving from the 5-3 defense to the 4-3. While Sam Huff got a lot of publicity as the premier middle linebacker because he played for the marque franchise of the time, the Giants, he only made five Pro Bowls while Schmidt made 10 straight. Schmidt was the best middle linebacker pre Dick Butkus.
