Dick Lane
A ferocious tackler and Hall of Fame cornerback who anchored the Lions' secondary from 1960 to 1965.
Dick "Night Train" Lane played for the Detroit Lions from 1960 to 1965, appearing in 66 games and intercepting 21 passes for 272 yards. He was acquired by the Lions on August 22, 1960, in a trade with the Chicago Cardinals for lineman Gerry Perry. Lions great Joe Schmidt later called it "one of the greatest trades that will ever be made in any sport." In his first win with the Lions, a 30–17 victory over the Baltimore Colts, Lane intercepted a Johnny Unitas pass and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown, quickly becoming a fan favorite in Detroit. He received All-NFL honors in 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, and was invited to the Pro Bowl in 1960, 1961, and 1962.
- Role
- Defensive Back / Cornerback
- Affiliation
- Detroit Lions
- Years Active
- 1960–1965
- Pro Bowls
- 3 selections (1960, 1961, 1962)
- All-Pro Honors
- First-Team selections in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Famer
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lane's arrival in Detroit in 1960 came via a trade that sent lineman Gerry Perry to the Chicago Cardinals. Lions head coach George Wilson noted at the time: "He has a reputation as a gambler. We are aware of that but he still has speed and experience." Lane quickly proved his worth, intercepting a Johnny Unitas pass and returning it 80 yards for a touchdown in a 30–17 win over the Baltimore Colts. Over six seasons with the Lions, Lane intercepted 21 passes for 272 yards. He earned first-team All-NFL honors from multiple outlets in 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, and played in the Pro Bowl in 1960, 1961, and 1962. After retiring, Lane worked for the Lions in administrative positions from 1966 to 1972.
In Their Own Story
In the Lions' first win of the 1960 season, a 30–17 victory over the Baltimore Colts, Lane intercepted a pass from Johnny Unitas and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. The play electrified the crowd and made Lane an instant fan favorite in Detroit. Lions great Joe Schmidt later called the trade that brought Lane to Detroit "one of the greatest trades that will ever be made in any sport." Lane's reputation as a gambler on the field was balanced by his speed and experience, as noted by head coach George Wilson. His ferocious tackling and ability to change games with interceptions defined his time with the Lions.
Reader's Guide
Dick Lane played for the Detroit Lions from 1960 to 1965, appearing in 66 games. He intercepted 21 passes for 272 yards during his Lions tenure. Lane received All-NFL honors in 1960 (UPI, NEA, and Sporting News first team), 1961 (AP, NEA, and Sporting News first team), 1962 (AP, UPI, Sporting News, and NEA first team), and 1963 (UPI and Sporting News first team). He was invited to the Pro Bowl in 1960, 1961, and 1962. After his playing career, Lane worked for the Lions in various administrative positions from 1966 to 1972. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Did You Know?
- Lane was acquired by the Lions on August 22, 1960, in a trade for lineman Gerry Perry.
- In his first win with the Lions, Lane intercepted a Johnny Unitas pass and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown.
- Lions great Joe Schmidt called the trade for Lane 'one of the greatest trades that will ever be made in any sport.'
- After retiring, Lane worked for the Lions in administrative positions from 1966 to 1972.
- Lane was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.