Detroit Lions: Ranking the top 10 quarterbacks in franchise history

7.) Milt Plum

Milt Plum was with the Lions from 1962-1967 and was a victim of the Vince Lombardi era in Green Bay. In 1962 Plum led the Lions to an 11-3 record only to be left out in the cold while the Green Bay Packers won the division and advanced to the title game.

The Packers finished the 1962 season at 13-1 with their only loss coming against Detroit on Thanksgiving day.

The rest of Plum’s tenure in Detroit was mostly mediocre and forgettable as they simply couldn’t find the right combination to put around him. Plum was a talented passer, but consistency was a struggle for him.

In 1963 Earl Morrall beat Plum out for the starting role, but after Morrall went down to injury Plum came in and had his best season as a Lion with 2,241 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes.

After that injuries and inconsistency caused him to share the position until his departure in 1968. Much like the tale of the Lions last 60 years, if Plum could have had a few more weapons and more consistency maybe things would have been different.