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.

Detroit lit up the scoreboard for 300 points, while the defense conceded 188. Gene Gedman rushed for a team-leading 479 yards for the Lions, 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 provided receiving help, 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
50	Charlie Ane	C	January 25, 1931	6'2"	260	USC	Honolulu, HI USA	12	12
33	Bill Bowman	FB	September 22, 1931	6'2"	215	William & Mary	Birmingham, AL USA	6	0
67	Stan Campbell	ROG	August 26, 1930	6'0"	226	Iowa St.	Hastings, NE USA	7	3
40	Howard Cassady	KR	March 2, 1934	5'10"	183	Ohio St.	Columbus, OH USA	12	3
24	Jack Christiansen	LS	December 20, 1928	6'1"	205	Colorado St.	Sublette, KS USA	12	12
76	Lou Creekmur	LT	January 22, 1927	6'4"	246	William & Mary	Hopelawn, NJ USA	12	12
68	Gene Cronin	RDE	November 20, 1933	6'2"	229	Pacific	Spalding, NE USA	12	6
25	Jim David	LDH	December 2, 1927	5'11"	178	Colorado St.	Florence, SC USA	12	12
87	Dorne Dibble	LE	April 26, 1929	6'2"	195	Michigan St.	Adrian, MI USA	12	12
83	Jim Doran	LH	August 11, 1927	6'2"	201	Buena Vista	Beaver, IA USA	11	8
85	Sonny Gandee	LLB	February 27, 1929	6'1"	216	Ohio St.	Akron, OH USA	12	12
26	Gene Gedman	RH	January 9, 1932	5'11"	195	Indiana	Duquesne, PA USA	12	12
12	Harry Gilmer	QB	April 14, 1926	6'0"	169	Alabama	Birmingham, AL USA	11	0
23	Jug Girard	LOH-P-LOE	January 25, 1927	5'11"	176	Wisconsin	Marinette, WI USA	10	2
82	Leon Hart	FB	November 2, 1928	6'5"	257	Notre Dame	Pittsburgh, PA USA	11	7
21	Carl Karilivacz	RDH	November 20, 1930	6'0"	188	Syracuse	Glen Cove, NY USA	11	11
70	Ray Krouse	LDT	March 21, 1927	6'3"	263	Maryland	Washington, DC USA	12	12
28	Yale Lary	P	November 24, 1930	5'11"	185	Texas A&M	Fort Worth, TX USA	12	12
22	Bobby Layne	K	December 19, 1926	6'1"	201	Texas	Santa Anna, TX USA	12	12
86	Bob Long	RLB	February 24, 1934	6'3"	232	UCLA	South Pasadena, CA USA	12	12
57	Bob Lusk	C	May 18, 1932	6'1"	222	William & Mary	Williamson, WV USA	5	0
72	Gil Mains	RDE	December 17, 1929	6'2"	243	Murray St.	Mount Carmel, IL USA	8	6
47	Jim Martin	RLB	April 8, 1924	6'2"	227	Notre Dame	Cleveland, OH USA	12	0
78	Darris McCord	LDE	January 4, 1933	6'4"	250	Tennessee	Detroit, MI USA	12	12
42	Don McIlhenny	ROH	November 22, 1934	6'0"	197	SMU	Cleveland, OH USA	9	5
84	Dave Middleton	RE	November 23, 1933	6'1"	194	Auburn	Birmingham, AL USA	12	11
74	Bob Miller	RDT	December 11, 1929	6'3"	242	Virginia	Norwalk, CT USA	12	12
79	Gerry Perry	LDE-LDT	July 17, 1930	6'4"	237	Pepperdine	Ballston Spa, NY USA	12	0
15	Jerry Reichow	QB	May 19, 1934	6'2"	217	Iowa	Decorah, IA USA	8	0
60	Jim Salsbury	RG	August 8, 1932	6'1"	233	UCLA	Los Angeles, CA USA	11	9
56	Joe Schmidt	MLB	January 19, 1932	6'1"	220	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, PA USA	12	12
66	Harley Sewell	LG	April 18, 1931	6'1"	230	Texas	St. Jo, TX USA	12	12
75	Ollie Spencer	RT	April 17, 1931	6'2"	245	Kansas	Hopewell, KS USA	12	12
20	Bill Stits	RDH-OHB	July 26, 1931	6'4"	194	UCLA	Lomita, CA USA	12	1
30	Tom Tracy	FB	September 7, 1934	5'9"	205	Tennessee	Birmingham, AL USA	4	0