NFL legend Joe Schmidt dies aged 92
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The NFL legend Joe Schmidt has passed away at the age of 92. The Hall of Fame linebacker helped the Detroit Lions win two NFL Championships in 1953 and 1957 and would later go on to coach the team.
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Hide AdFamily reportedly informed the NFL franchise of Schmidt’s death on Wednesday but have not announced a cause of death.
After hearing of his passing, his former team announced: “We are saddened to hear the passing of Joe Schmidt. Joe was a Lion through and though, having spent his entire career in Detroit. Joe was an enduring link to our Championship era and one of the proudest Lions you will ever meet.”
Schmidt is deemed on of pro football’s first great middle linebackers. He played his entire career with the Lions, starting in 1953 and ending in 1965. He is an eight-time All Pro and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
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Hide AdIn a statement made on Thursday, the Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said: “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. When Joe Schmidt got to the ball carrier, that was the end of play. And yet, he never sought out attention. He let his play do the talking.”
Born in Pittsburg, Schmidt began playing college football in his hometown, starting out as a fullback and guard before switching to linebacker. He dealt with several injuries throughout his college career before being drafted the Lions in the seventh round in 1953.
As a player with immense speedy, savvy and tackling ability, he quickly became an invaluable part of some of the franchise’s greatest teams and after his arrival, the Lions won the last two of their three NFL titles.
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Hide AdIn 2017, Schmidt spoke to the Detroit Free Press and said it had been a ‘dream’ to play football: “It was a dream of mine to play football. I had so many people tell me that I was too small. That I couldn’t play. I had so many negative people say negative things about me ... that it makes you feel good inside. I said, ‘OK, I’ll prove it to you.’”
After ending his career on the pitch, the linebacker went on to become Detroit’s head coach from 1967 to 1972, going 43-35-7. He was part of the NFL’s All-Time team revealed in 2019 to celebrate the league’s centennial season.
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