Any idea what passers had the best single seasons in Detroit Lions’ history? Notice I said “passers,” not “quarterbacks?” That’s because the franchise dates back to the Portsmouth Spartans of the early 1930s when the passer was a tailback or fullback … and, in my book, those guys count. So, let me ask again: Who had the best single seasons? OK, full disclosure: It’s somewhat of a trick question. Because unlike teams such as the Chargers or 49ers, the Lions had few elite seasons by their passers.
Remarkably few. Of the passers, only four were first-team All-Pro, with three of them being single-wing tailbacks who were active before World War II. Furthermore, only four T-formation quarterbacks have been invited to the Pro Bowl since its inception. Naturally, there’s a cause: A Lions quarterback has only passed for 20 touchdowns or more in 15 seasons. There were more expansion clubs in pro football in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
That won’t stop me, though, from creating a list of the best seasons quarterbacks and tailbacks for the Lions have had in the previous 90 years. As I’ve previously stated, I take each player’s best year and rank those seasons according to important factors like winning and honors. After that, I blended everything to create my Top 15. Thus, let’s get started: 15. (Tie) Erik Kramer and Rodney Peete, 1991 Yes, two men. These two are in joint 15th place.
Both teams had records of 6-2, while the Lions were 12-4. In the seventh game of the season, Peete tore his Achilles tendon; Kramer filled in and completed the campaign. Kramer led the Lions to a 38-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a playoff game, and he even won one. However, Washington destroyed them 41–10 a week later. However, Peete and Kramer’s season was so good together that the Lions wouldn’t win another postseason game until 2023. 14. Kitna, John (2007)
One year before the Lions finished 0-16, Kitna passed for over 4,000 yards under Mike Martz. He also claimed seven victories. Kitna loved Martz even though not everyone did. Kitna has the ability to move the ball, even though this is more of a “eye-test” pick. The squad got off to a quick 6-2 lead in his best season with Detroit, but then it fell apart and won just one of the next eight games. 13. Eric Hipple (1983) Hipple was an ordinary quarterback with the Lions. Despite having modest numbers, he led his club to the verge of the playoffs by going 8-3 in the last week of the regular season before losing in the championship game. 12. Danielson, Gary, 1978
On a club that began the season 1-4, he took over as the starting pitcher and went 6-5. He didn’t exactly blow up the NFL, but he was regarded as one of the best rookie quarterbacks in the game, throwing for 2,294 yards and 18 touchdowns, good for sixth in the NFL. In addition, he rated as the ninth passer.
Krieg not only kept the Lions in the running for the playoffs, but he also managed to propel them there while starting fewer than half the games. After starting quarterback Scott Mitchell was injured, he assumed the starting position and went on to finish the season with a passing rating of 101.7. He didn’t, however, make enough tries to be eligible for the league leadership. 10. Milt Plum, 1962 Although he had an 11-3 season in his debut season with the Lions, he had unimpressive passing numbers, which was unusual for him. In Cleveland, Plum had been among the NFL’s most effective passers; he was a quarterback who made his throws count rather than throw for yardage.
With Jim Brown in the backfield, you can accomplish that. He’d be considered a game manager now, and that’s what he was in 1962 when he handed the 13-1 Green Bay Packers their lone defeat after defeating Johnny Unitas twice with the support of his defense. He also battled the 12-2 New York Giants before falling short by three points and lost a close game to the Packers by two points.
Throughout his career, Morrall was the NFL’s standard backup, and this season, much like he did later with the Colts and Dolphins, he lived up to that reputation. He replaced Plum in 1963, starting the last ten games and amassing 2,621 yards and 24 touchdown throws. Amazingly, after 16 games, his touchdown total is still tied with Matthew Stafford for 10th place in team history. In essence, Morrall completed it in 12. 8. Mitchell, Scott, 1995.
As a starter, Mitchell went 10–6 and shattered team passing records. He broke the yardage mark by more than 1,100 yards, and his 32 touchdown passes were six more than the previous record. There was only one issue: He couldn’t keep it up during the playoffs. In the NFC wildcard game against Philadelphia, he threw four interceptions and was benched in favor of Don Majkowski. Hurt. However, he finished third in touchdown passes and second in passing yards during the regular season. He was also named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 9 and the NFL Offensive Player of the Week by Pro Football Weekly four weeks later. 7. Landry, Greg, 1971
Bobby Douglass was the NFL’s top running quarterback, but Landry was a dual threat as well. But Landry could pass, unlike Douglass. He started and got the Lions to the postseason in 1970. However, he was so successful the next season that he was selected to the Pro Bowl and even received some MVP votes. The good news is that. The Lions’ inability to repeat as a playoff club after dropping their final three games despite starting 7-3-1 is the issue. Although he finished with a record of 8-5-1, scored nine touchdowns on the ground and eighteen touchdowns throwing, he finished with a total of 27 touchdowns, or seven more than the next-closest finisher in both passing and rushing touchdowns combined. However, he gave some subpar efforts.
