Detroit Lions: 30 greatest players in franchise history

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Without a doubt, Alex Karras is the best player from his era to not be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that is an absolute travesty. I feel like his absence from the Hall has everything to do with the circumstances behind his season-long suspension in 1963 due to a gambling scandal, where Karras admitted to betting on NFL games.

Green Bay Packers halfback “The Golden Boy” Paul Hornung was also implicated in the situation. Despite missing the entire season in 1963 as well, Hornung would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Prior to his suspension, Karras was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro. Though he only reached the Pro Bowl once after his year in exile, Karras was still an elite talent at defensive tackle. On the field, he was a fierce competitor who rarely missed games, garnering the respect of his peers.

For his career, he started in 156 games out of 161. Karras also managed to snag down an impressive four interceptions as a defensive lineman. Despite his football acumen, Karras remained true to his independent spirit. Football was a large part of his life, but it didn’t define him.

Before he had even debuted in the NFL, the former Iowa Hawkeye spent time as a professional wrestler in 1957. After his great-yet-contentious career had come to an end in 1971, he took his infectious personality to Hollywood and excelled as an actor.

Karras’ two most memorable roles were as “Mongo” in Mel Brooks’ comedy hit “Blazing Saddles” and as TV dad, George Papadapolis in the sitcom “Webster.”