The 5 best running backs in Detroit Lions history
No. 1 is obvious, but who else makes the list of the 5 best running backs in Detroit Lions history?
4. Mel Farr
The Lions took Farr seventh overall in the 1967 NFL Draft out of UCLA, and he promptly topped 1,100 yards from scrimmage on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1967. In 1968, he led the league in yards per touch (6.4). He was worth of the nickname "Superstar."
Farr would never quite replicate that rookie season, in a career impacted and shortened by injuries. But he did earn a second career Pro Bowl selection in 1970, as he rushed for 717 yards and nine touchdowns. After being traded to the Houston Oilers in 1974, he retired.
Starting at about the 48 second mark of the clip below, you can see Farr's speed on display.
12/6/70 Stl@Det - 6min left. Det leads 9-3.
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) August 2, 2018
Detroit seals it. A play action to the inside back does little but I believe it’s a setup play because the next play is the 65 toss power trap that KC made famous in the Super Bowl earlier in the year. Mel Farr Superstar does the rest. pic.twitter.com/bKEy27yfQU
After football, Farr became very successful as a car dealership owner with double-digit locations across multiple states.
3. Doak Walker
The man whose name is on the award given to college football's best running back did not have a long NFL career, relatively speaking, spending all six of his seasons (1950-1955) with the Lions. But he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time All Pro over those half-dozens seasons, on his way to earning a Hall of Fame induction in 1986.
As a testament to his athleticism and versatility, Walker also did placekicking, punting and kick returning for the Lions, with an occasional pass attempt. But he was a pretty good dual threat running back too, with over 750 yards from scrimmage four times, so he gets a spot on this list