Detroit Lions

I am going to post these 1966 teams in the order they appear on the checklist (skipping teams where I don’t have all the cards yet). 

 

 

In 1966 the Lions finished at 4-9-1, their 2nd consecutive 6th place finish (in a 7-team division). Although they would finish in 2nd place every season from 1969 to 1975, it wasn’t until 1983 that they would win their division, for the first time since 1957. 

 

The only 1966 Lions’ cards I had before last month were Amos Marsh and Pat Studstill. 

 

Milt Plum was the Browns’ #1 pick in 1957, and was their starting QB from 1958 to 1961. He led the NFL in completion % from 1959-61, and made the Pro Bowl in ’60 and ’61. 

Play-calling squabbles with coach Paul Brown led to his trade to Detroit before the 1962 season. He was the Lions’ starting QB for most of 1963-67, then was traded to the Rams in the deal that brought Bill Munson to the Lions. Plum played in 1 game for the Giants in 1969. 

 

Tom Watkins was a backup halfback for the Browns (’61), Lions (’62-‘67), and Steelers (’68), starting as many as 7 games only once (1964). 

 

Amos Marsh – An undrafted free agent, Marsh played fullback for the Cowboys from 1961-64, starting every game in 1962. He played halfback for the Lions from 1965-67, and started 12 games in 1966. 

 

Pat Studstill played for the Lions from 1961-67 (missing all of 1963 with a knee injury). He made the Pro Bowl in his only 2 seasons as a full-time starter (’65, ’66), and led the NFL in receiving yards in 1966. He also played 3 seasons with the Rams (1968-70) as a backup. Besides his receiving duties, he was also his team’s punter from 1965-72. He joined the Patriots in 1972 as a punter only. 

 

John Gordy was the Lions’ 2nd-round pick in 1957, and played every game at right guard through the 1967 season (missing the ’58 season). He started all but 6 games (aside from ‘58), and made the Pro Bowl 3 times. 

 

Alex Karras was the Lions’ 1st-round pick in 1958. Except for missing the 1963 season while suspended for gambling, he played every game at left defensive tackle for the Lions from 1958-70, until missing 1 game in his final season. He started every game except for 4 in his rookie season and 2 in his final season. A 3-time 1st-team All-Pro, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. 

 

 

Roger Brown was a 4th-round pick in 1960, and played every game for the Lions from 1960-66 (starting all but 1 game). He was traded to the Rams before the 1967 season, and started every game there for 2 years. He finished as a Rams’ backup in 1969. Brown made the Pro Bowl every season from 1962-67, and was 1st-team All-Pro in ’62 and ’63. 

 

Wayne Walker was the Lions’ 4th-round pick in 1958. He was their starting right linebacker from 1960 to 1972. He made the Pro Bowl from 1963-65, and was 1st-team All-Pro in ‘65. Walker was also the Lions’ kicker from 1962-68. 

 

Dick LeBeau was the Browns’ 5th-round pick in 1959, but never played for them. After starting 6 games at free safety for the Lions in ’59, he was a starting cornerback every season from 1960-71, missing only 1 game (in 1971). In his final season (1972) he moved back to free safety. A 3-time Pro Bowler (’64-’66), he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. 

LeBeau also coached for 29 seasons for the Eagles (1973-75), Packers (1976-79), Bengals (1980-91, DC from 84-91), Steelers (1992-96, DC from 95-96), Bengals (DC from 1997-2000, head coach 2000-02), Bills (2003), Steelers (DC 2004-14), and Titans (DC 2015-17). 

 

*Wayne Rasmussen was drafted in the 9th round in 1964, and played for the Lions from 1964-72. Primarily a free safety, most of his starts came in ’65, ’66, and ’70. 

 

*Bobby Smith was the Rams’ 7th-round pick in 1961. He played for the Rams from 1962 to midway through the 1965 season. He was the Rams’ starting free safety in 1962 and cornerback in ’63 and ’64, while also returning kicks and punts in ’64 and ’65. His final year-and-a-half was with the Lions, who used him as a backup DB and occasional kick returner. 

Hall of Famers - 2

*Unknown to me before November 2023