During the Detroit Lions’ most successful era, middle linebacker Joe Schmidt was often the driving force behind the team’s achievements.
Schmidt, a versatile talent who transformed his position, led the Lions to two NFL Championships, earned 10 Pro Bowl selections, made eight All-Pro teams, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Schmidt passed away on Wednesday at the age of 92, his family announced.
“Joe Schmidt played in a golden era of middle linebackers in the NFL, and many of his peers considered him the toughest opponent they faced,” said Hall of Fame president Jim Porter in a statement on Thursday. “When Joe Schmidt got to the ball carrier, that was the end of the play. And yet, he never sought out attention. He let his play do the talking.”
Schmidt was a star for the Lions for 13 seasons and later served as the team’s head coach from 1967-1972, posting a 43-34-7 record that included four winning seasons and one playoff appearance. As a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1973, his career includes a place on the Hall of Fame’s All-1950s team and the NFL All-Time 100th Anniversary Team.
Selected in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh, Schmidt joined a Lions team that had just won the NFL Championship in 1952. Despite slipping in the draft due to multiple college injuries, the rookie quickly proved he was more than capable of holding a starting spot on the NFL’s top team.
Schmidt was a starter on the 1953 Lions championship team and, a season later, made the first of an impressive 10 consecutive Pro Bowls.
Beyond his on-field skills, Schmidt was known for his consistency and leadership. He started every game during his first seven seasons and served as team captain for nine of his 13 years.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Schmidt. Joe was a Lion through and through, having spent his entire career in Detroit,” the Lions said in a statement. “Joe was a lasting link to our Championship era and one of the proudest Lions you will ever meet.”
In the golden age of football, when running backs dominated Sundays, middle linebackers like Schmidt were their fiercest opponents. Alongside contemporaries such as Bill George and Sam Huff, Schmidt brought attention to the middle linebacker position as the 4-3 defense became a staple in the league. Despite the position’s reputation for toughness, Schmidt was remarkably versatile, excelling as a three-down player with the ability to tackle, cover, and read the game at an elite level.
In 155 career games (151 starts), Schmidt recorded 24 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries. He scored three defensive touchdowns, led the NFL in fumble recoveries in 1955, and had standout seasons with six interceptions in 1958 and four in two other seasons.
Throughout his career, Schmidt accumulated numerous accolades as one of the league’s best players.
Schmidt’s eight first-team All-Pro selections remain the most ever for a linebacker. His 10 Pro Bowl appearances rank fourth all-time among linebackers, tied with Mike Singletary and trailing only Ray Lewis (12), Junior Seau (12), and Derrick Brooks (11). Those 10 Pro Bowl selections also tie him with Barry Sanders for the most in Lions history.
“Joe Schmidt had the heart of a Lion, which made it appropriate that he was also the heart of our team,” said Lions owner and chair emeritus Martha Firestone Ford in a statement. “Joe was a key part of our Championship seasons and continued to be an important part of our organization until his passing. Joe made his home in Detroit and carried his success from the field into our community. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but I have nothing but fond memories of the person he was.”
Schmidt’s final season as a player was in 1965, where he started all 14 games, recorded four interceptions, and had an unofficial 4.5 sacks, proving that his playmaking abilities remained strong.
Throughout his career, Schmidt helped the Lions to eight winning seasons and three NFL title game appearances. As a rookie, he played a crucial role in the Lions’ back-to-back championships, including a decisive victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 1957 NFL Championship Game, which remains the franchise’s last title.
Schmidt retired from playing at 33 but returned the following season as a linebackers coach. A year later, he began a six-year tenure as the Lions’ head coach at just 35.
For 20 consecutive autumns, Schmidt was either a starting linebacker or coaching on the Lions’ sidelines. He remains one of the greatest Lions and one of the finest middle linebackers in NFL history.
