1956 Detroit Lions Roster

National Football League (NFL)
Team Record: 9-3
Finishing 2nd in the NFL's West Division
Coach: Buddy Parker (9-3)
Location: Detroit, Michigan
1956 Detroit Lions Statistics
1956 Detroit Lions Results

The Detroit Lions of the National Football League ended the 1956 season with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses, finishing second in the NFL's West Division.

The Lions lit up the scoreboard for 300 points, and the defense conceded 188. Gene Gedman rushed for a team-leading 479 yards for Detroit, while Howard Cassady and Don McIlhenny also aided the ground game.

Bobby Layne threw for 1,909 yards. Dave Middleton topped the receiving corps, hauling in 39 balls for 606 yards. Dorne Dibble contributed to the receiving game, too.

The ball-hawking defense pounced on 40 turnovers. Jack Christiansen and Yale Lary each picked off 8 opponent throws.

Buddy Parker coached the team.

Click on column headings to sort.

# Player Pos. Birth Date Height Weight College Hometown GP GS
50Charlie AneCJanuary 25, 19316'2"260USCHonolulu, HI USA120
33Bill BowmanFBSeptember 22, 19316'2"215William & MaryBirmingham, AL USA60
67Stan CampbellGAugust 26, 19306'0"226Iowa St.Hastings, NE USA70
40Howard CassadyKRMarch 2, 19345'10"183Ohio St.Columbus, OH USA120
24Jack ChristiansenLSDecember 20, 19286'1"205Colorado St.Sublette, KS USA120
76Lou CreekmurLTJanuary 22, 19276'4"246William & MaryHopelawn, NJ USA120
68Gene CroninDE-LB-GNovember 20, 19336'2"229PacificSpalding, NE USA120
25Jim DavidLDHDecember 2, 19275'11"178Colorado St.Florence, SC USA120
87Dorne DibbleLEApril 26, 19296'2"195Michigan St.Adrian, MI USA120
83Jim DoranLHAugust 11, 19276'2"201Buena VistaBeaver, IA USA110
85Sonny GandeeLLBFebruary 27, 19296'1"216Ohio St.Akron, OH USA120
26Gene GedmanRHJanuary 9, 19325'11"195IndianaDuquesne, PA USA120
12Harry GilmerQB-HBApril 14, 19266'0"169AlabamaBirmingham, AL USA110
23Jug GirardE-HB-QB-DBJanuary 25, 19275'11"176WisconsinMarinette, WI USA100
82Leon HartFBNovember 2, 19286'5"257Notre DamePittsburgh, PA USA110
21Carl KarilivaczRDHNovember 20, 19306'0"188SyracuseGlen Cove, NY USA110
70Ray KrouseLDTMarch 21, 19276'3"263MarylandWashington, DC USA120
28Yale LaryPNovember 24, 19305'11"185Texas A&MFort Worth, TX USA120
22Bobby LayneKDecember 19, 19266'1"201TexasSanta Anna, TX USA1212
86Bob LongLBFebruary 24, 19346'3"232UCLASouth Pasadena, CA USA120
57Bob LuskCMay 18, 19326'1"222William & MaryWilliamson, WV USA50
72Gil MainsRDEDecember 17, 19296'2"243Murray St.Mount Carmel, IL USA80
47Jim MartinRLBApril 8, 19246'2"227Notre DameCleveland, OH USA120
78Darris McCordLDEJanuary 4, 19336'4"250TennesseeDetroit, MI USA120
42Don McIlhennyHBNovember 22, 19346'0"197SMUCleveland, OH USA90
84Dave MiddletonRENovember 23, 19336'1"194AuburnBirmingham, AL USA120
74Bob MillerRDTDecember 11, 19296'3"242VirginiaNorwalk, CT USA120
79Gerry PerryT-DT-DE-GJuly 17, 19306'4"237PepperdineBallston Spa, NY USA120
15Jerry ReichowE-QBMay 19, 19346'2"217IowaDecorah, IA USA80
60Jim SalsburyRGAugust 8, 19326'1"233UCLALos Angeles, CA USA110
56Joe SchmidtMLBJanuary 19, 19326'1"220PittsburghPittsburgh, PA USA120
66Harley SewellLGApril 18, 19316'1"230TexasSt. Jo, TX USA120
75Ollie SpencerRTApril 17, 19316'2"245KansasHopewell, KS USA120
20Bill StitsDB-HBJuly 26, 19316'4"194UCLALomita, CA USA120
30Tom TracyHB-FBSeptember 7, 19345'9"205TennesseeBirmingham, AL USA40



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