Jeff Backus didn't need time to adjust to the speed of professional football after he was taken 18th overall in 2001 from Michigan. Stepping straight into the starting left tackle spot as a rookie, he immediately locked down the most critical position on Detroit's offensive line and held it without hesitation for twelve consecutive seasons.

Backus defined iron-man durability in an era defined by grueling physicality. From his first career game in 2001 through November 2012, he started 186 consecutive games at left tackle for the Lions—the longest starting streak by an offensive lineman in franchise history. Through multiple coaching regimes, offensive schemes, and quarterback rotations, he served as the blindside protector. His mechanical consistency and toughness made him a respected locker-room leader and an offensive cornerstone.

Although postseason honors and Pro Bowl selections often eluded him, Backus gained national recognition early in his career by making the 2001 PFWA All-Rookie Team. His dependability proved valuable in 2011 when he helped solidify the line that protected Matthew Stafford during his record 5,000-yard passing season, leading Detroit to its first playoff appearance in more than ten years.

When a hamstring injury finally snapped his historic starting streak late in the 2012 season, Backus retired shortly thereafter as a lifelong Lion. His 191 career starts rank among the highest totals in franchise history, standing as a testament to one of the most dependable first-round investments the franchise ever made.

Stepping out of Colorado State as a second-round pick in 1978, Al "Bubba" Baker unleashed one of the most destructive individual seasons the National Football League has ever witnessed. The 6-foot-8 defensive end combined blinding speed with massive power, anchoring Detroit's legendary "Silver Rush" front four and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks from his very first snap.

Baker's rookie campaign was pure bedlam. He compiled an astounding 23.0 sacks in 1978—a jaw-dropping total that stands as the greatest single-season pass-rushing performance in NFL history. He easily captured AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and earned a consensus First-Team All-Pro nod. Baker proved it was no fluke by leading the league again two years later with 18.0 sacks in 1980, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three professional seasons.

Opposing offenses had no answer for his edge-bending acceleration, but off-field contract disputes eventually shortened his stay in Motown. After five dominant years anchoring the Lions' line, Baker was traded to St. Louis in 1983, later spending time with Cleveland and Minnesota before retiring. Because sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, his era-defining numbers sat in historical limbo for decades until retroactively compiled and verified.

As a Lion, Baker compiled 75.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in Honolulu blue (131.0 career sacks overall). He was also chosen for both the Lions’ 75th Anniversary and All-Time Teams.

Fresh off winning the inaugural Rimington Trophy as the top center in college football at Nebraska, Dominic Raiola was selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. After spending his rookie year learning the ropes in a backup role, Raiola took over as the starting center in 2002 and held down the pivot point of Motown's offensive line for the next thirteen seasons.

Raiola's time with Honolulu blue was marked by exceptional durability and a tough, fiery attitude. Throughout a career that saw frequent coaching changes, quarterback shifts, and limited supporting talent, he missed only four games in 14 seasons. His sharpness as a line caller and resilience in the trenches made him the key leader for the protection units that achieved franchise records for fewest sacks in 2002 and 2003.

Although postseason awards and Pro Bowl selections often overlooked him, Raiola was highly respected within the organization for his durability and long career. He made history as the first Lion to play 200 games for the franchise, playing a key role in transitioning from the tough, underperforming years of the 2000s to the dynamic playoff teams featuring Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

By the time he retired following the 2014 season, Raiola had logged 219 games played and 203 starts in a Detroit uniform—placing him behind only Jason Hanson on the franchise's all-time games played list. 

Few tailbacks in NFL history burst onto the professional scene with the raw, jaw-dropping athleticism of Billy Sims. Selected first overall in 1980 after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, Sims brought an electric mix of track-star speed, violent high-stepping action, and open-field agility that instantly made him a national sensation and a beloved hero across Motown.

Sims hit the league like a lightning bolt, rushing for 1,303 yards and leading the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns as a rookie to capture AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He followed that up with a First-Team All-Pro campaign in 1981, racking up 1,437 rushing yards while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. His signature, airborne goal-line dives and karate-style high kicks over prospective tacklers captivated fans, earning him three consecutive Pro Bowl trips from 1980 to 1982 while anchoring Detroit's offense.

His dominance extended far beyond carrying the football. As a dual-threat weapon out of the backfield, Sims regularly tore up defenses on screen passes and swing routes, compiling over 7,000 yards from scrimmage and an astounding 63 Approximate Value across just 60 career games.

Then came the sudden, heart-wrenching halt. On October 21, 1984, during an eight-game stretch in which he averaged 5.3 yards per carry, Sims suffered a catastrophic right knee injury when his cleat caught in the artificial turf at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome against Minnesota. Despite spending nearly two years in grueling rehabilitation, the devastating tear ended his career at just 29 years old.

Across five active seasons spent entirely with the Detroit Lions (1980–1984), Sims played in 60 regular-season games with 58 starts, plus two postseason contests. He compiled 5,106 rushing yards, 42 rushing touchdowns, 186 receptions, 2,072 receiving yards, and 47 total touchdowns over his brief and explosive run.