Joe Schmidt

Lore & Background

Schmidt played college football at the University of Pittsburgh from 1950 to 1952, where he was a first-team All-American in 1952. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL draft. He played in ten consecutive Pro Bowls from 1954 to 1963 and was selected as a first-team All-Pro each of those years. He was voted the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1960 and 1963. He served as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 1967 to 1972, compiling a 43–34–7 record.

In Their Own Story

The locker room was quiet after another grueling practice at the old Olympia Stadium. Schmidt walked slowly down the line of players, his eyes scanning faces that had seen too many losses in previous years. He stopped at the center, looked up at the young quarterback, and spoke softly about belief. 'We don't play for yesterday,' he said, 'we play to build tomorrow.' In that moment, the atmosphere shifted; the doubt evaporated, replaced by a steely resolve that would soon carry them to the pinnacle of the league.

Reader's Guide

Schmidt was known for his leadership as team captain for nine years and as the defensive signal caller. He was elected as the Lions' team captain in 1956. He was also the first player representative for the Lions when the NFL Players Association was formed in 1956.

Did You Know?

• Schmidt was born in Pittsburgh in 1932 and grew up in the borough of Brentwood.
• He was selected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.
• After retiring from coaching, Schmidt worked as a manufacturer's representative in the automobile industry in Detroit.
• He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.