1956 Detroit Lions Statistics

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 Roster
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.


Passing:

Player Att Comp Comp % Yds Yds/Att TDs TD % Ints Int % Long Rating
Bobby Layne24412952.919097.893.7177.07062.0
Harry Gilmer462758.73036.648.736.54180.3
Jug Girard11100.01919.000.000.019118.8
Jerry Reichow6350.0193.200.0116.71417.4
Don McIlhenny100.000.000.000.0039.6
Howard Cassady200.000.000.0150.000.0
Bill Stits100.000.000.01100.000.0
Totals30116053.222507.5134.3237.670 

Rushing:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long TDs
Gene Gedman1354793.533 7
Howard Cassady974134.333 0
Don McIlhenny873724.330 3
Leon Hart763484.646 5
Bobby Layne461693.720 5
Bill Bowman20844.213 1
Jug Girard17673.911 0
Tom Tracy12322.70
Harry Gilmer8192.40
Yale Lary11010.010 0
Dave Middleton393.010 0
Dorne Dibble188.00
Jerry Reichow111.00
Bill Stits300.00
Totals50720114.046 21

Receiving:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long TDs
Dave Middleton3960615.556 5
Dorne Dibble3259718.756 2
Jim Doran2544817.931 0
Gene Gedman151429.543 1
Leon Hart141168.329 1
Howard Cassady9839.221 0
Don McIlhenny8708.821 2
Bill Bowman5346.818 1
Jerry Reichow46315.841 1
Bill Stits35217.327 0
Jug Girard33311.016 0
Tom Tracy362.00
Totals160225014.156 13

Kicking:

Player X/CA X/CM X/CP % FGA FGM FG % Pts.
Bobby Layne3333100.0151280.069
Jim Martin33100.010440.015
Totals3636100.0251664.084

Punting:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long
Yale Lary42169840.441
Jug Girard1044844.854
Totals52214641.354

Punt Returns:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long TDs
Howard Cassady13836.434 0
Jack Christiansen67312.266 1
Yale Lary22703.238 0
Jug Girard273.50
Totals432335.466 1

Kick Returns:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long TDs
Howard Cassady1638223.942 0
Jack Christiansen611619.322 0
Yale Lary47619.029 0
Bill Stits34816.019 0
Bill Bowman12424.024 0
Charlie Ane11919.019 0
Jim Salsbury11313.013 0
Jerry Reichow199.00
Totals3368720.842 0

Interceptions:

Player No. Yds Avg. Long TDs
Yale Lary818222.873 1
Jack Christiansen810913.633 0
Jim David740.60
Bob Long24723.540 0
Bill Stits11111.011 0
Joe Schmidt177.00
Carl Karilivacz100.00
Totals2836012.973 1

Defense and Fumbles:


Total Scoring:

Touchdowns Other Total
Player Rush Rec Punt Kick MFG Int Fum Other FG X/C Single 2Pt Saf Points
Bobby Layne51233099
Gene Gedman7100048
Leon Hart5100036
Don McIlhenny3200030
Dave Middleton0500030
Jim Martin43015
Dorne Dibble0200012
Bill Bowman11000012
Yale Lary00010006
Jerry Reichow0100006
Jack Christiansen1000006
Totals21131001001636000300



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