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From 26-50, the best Detroit Lions to wear each number
With the NFL season just around the corner, what better time to take a look at the best Detroit Lions to wear each number? From 0 to 99 -- yes, there was one player who wore No. 0 -- we've got them all for you. Last week, we took a look at Nos. 0-25. Today: Nos. 26-50.
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26: Dick Jauron
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1973-77
NFL career: 1973-80
Stat sheet: Had 14 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown; led NFL with 208 yards in interceptions returns in 1973; 95-yard interception return in 1973 was longest in NFL that season; fourth in NFL with five fumble recoveries in 1973; averaged 10.1 yards on 40 kickoff returns and 22.4 yards on 19 punt returns.
Was Lions defensive coordinator in 2004-05 and interim head coach in 2005
Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
27: Glover Quin
Position: Safety
Played for Lions: 2013-present
NFL career: 2009-15
Stat sheet: Has started all 48 games with Lions; intercepted 14 passes, returning one for a touchdown; led NFL with seven interceptions in 2014; 158 tackles; one fumble recovery; named to one Pro Bowl.
Other notable #27: Bobby Thompson, Bobby Watkins, Luther Bradley.
28: Yale Lary
Position: Defensive back, punter
Played for Lions: 1952-64
NFL career: 1952-64
Stat sheet: 50 interceptions rank third in team history; finished in NFL top 10 for interceptions four times; twice was in NFL top 10 for fumble return yards; averaged 44.3 yards per punt; led NFL in punting average four times, including team-record 48.9 in 1963; named to Pro Bowl nine times.
Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1979
Other notable #28: James Hunter, Mike Wegner
29: Bruce McNorton
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1982-90
NFL career: 1982-90
Stat sheet: Intercepted 20 passes and recovered six fumbles; sixth in NFL with seven interceptions in 1983.
Other notable #29: Harry Colon
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30: James Jones
Position: Fullback
Played for Lions: 1983-88
NFL career: 1983-92
Stat sheet: Rushed for 3,452 yards and 23 touchdowns in 85 games; started all but one game with Lions; caught 285 passes for 2,218 yards and 10 TDs;threw one TD pass; 10th in NFL with eight rushing TDs and 903 yards in 1986; seventh in NFL with 77 receptions in 1977.
Other notable #30: Cory Schlesinger.
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31: Corey Raymond
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1995-97
NFL career: 1992-97
Stat sheet: Had eight interceptions, returning one for a touchdown; two sacks in 1995; 163 tackles; fifth in NFL with six interceptions in 1995; one fumble recovery.
Other notable #31: Ken Callicutt
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32: Dre Bly
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 2003-2006
NFL career: 1999-2009
Stat sheet: 19 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns; five fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a TD; 113 yards in fumble return yards led NFL in 2003; 163 total tackles;; seventh in NFL with six interceptions in both 2003 and 2005; named to Pro Bowl twice.
Other notable #32: Willie Clay, Bryant Westbrook
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33: Nick Pietrosante
Position: Fullback
Played for Lions: 1959-65
NFL career: 1959-67
Stat sheet: Rushed for 3,933 yards and 28 touchdowns; caught 134 passes for 1,323 yards and two TDs; twice was fourth in NFL in rushing yards; three times finished in top 10 in rushing TDs; named to Pro Bowl twice.
Other notable #33: William Graham.
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34: James Stewart
Position: Running back
Played for Lions: 2000-02
NFL career: 1995-2002
Stat sheet: Rushed for at least 1,000 twice; 2,890 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns; 101 receptions for 862 yards and four TDs; eighth in NFL with 10 TDs in 2000.
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35: William White
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1988-93
NFL career: 1988-98
Stat sheet: Started 79 of 95 games; 13 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown; two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a TD; 450 total tackles.
Other notable #35: Tom Nowatzke.
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36: Bennie Blades
Position: Safety
Played for Lions: 1988-96
NFL career: 1988-97
Stat sheet: 12 interceptions; one interception return for touchdown; 772 total tackles, including one for a safety; two seasons with at least 100 tackles; named to one Pro Bowl
Other notable #36: Steve Owens.
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37: Doak Walker
Position: Running back, defensive back, kicker, punter
Played for Lions: 1950-55
NFL career: 1950-55
Stat sheet: Rushed for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns; caught 152 passes for 2,539 yards and 21 TDs; made 49 of 87 field goals; led NFL in extra points twice; averaged 39.1 yards on 50 punts; threw two TD passes; two interceptions; top 10 in NFL in TDs twice; three times in NFL top 10 in all-purpose yards; five times in NFL top 10 in field goals made.
Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1986.
One of six numbers retired by Lions
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38: Lawrence Gaines
Position: Running back
Played for Lions: 1976, 1978-79
NFL career: 1976-79
Stat sheet: Rushed for 892 yards and five touchdowns; caught 25 passes for 146 yards and one TD.
Other notable #38: Bill Triplett.
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39: Leonard Thompson
Position: Wide receiver
Played for Lions: 1975-86
NFL career: 1975-86
Stat sheet: Caught 277 passes for 4,682 yards and 35 touchdowns; averaged 16.9 yards per catch; rushed for 327 yards and three TDs; 150 yards receiving in 1982 playoff game vs. Redskins; top 10 in NFL in yards-per-reception three times.
Other notable #39: Ray Crockett
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40: Jimmy Allen
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1978-81
NFL career: 1974-81
Stat sheet: 24 interceptions; third in NFL with nine interceptions in 1981; returned fumble for touchdown in 1978.
Other notable #40: Hopalong Cassady, Duane Galloway.
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41: Terry Barr
Position: Flanker, defensive back
Played for Lions: 1957-65
NFL career: 1957-65
Stat sheet: 3,810 receiving yards with 35 touchdowns; twice topped 1,000 yards in receiving; led NFL with 13 TD receptions in 1963; rushed for two TDs; five interceptions; twice finished in NFL's top 10 for both receptions, receiving yards and TDs; twice named to Pro Bowl.
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42: Altie Taylor
Position: Running back
Played for Lions: 1969-75
NFL career: 1969-76
Stat sheet: Rushed for 4,297 yards and 24 touchdowns; caught 173 passes for 1,523 yards and six TDs; led NFL with 11 fumbles in 1971.
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43: Gary Lowe
Position: Running back, defensive back
Played for Lions: 1957-64
NFL career: 1956-64
Stat sheet: Intercepted 19 passes; recovered three fumbles; sixth in NFL with five interceptions in 1959; led NFL with 130 interception return yards in 1959.
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44: Dick LeBeau
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1959-72
NFL career: 1959-72
Stat sheet: Holds team record with 62 interceptions, 10th all-time in the NFL for interceptions; five times in NFL's top 10 for interceptions; returned three interceptions for touchdowns; nine fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown; named to Pro Bowl three times.
Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010
Other notable #44: Harry Hopp, Don Doll.
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45: Ray Jarvis
Position: Wide receiver
Played for Lions: 1974-78
NFL career: 1971-79
Stat sheet: Caught 100 passes for 1,772 yards and 10 touchdowns; had at least 500 yards in receiving twice; seventh in NFL with 822 receiving yards in 1976; 10th in NFL with average of 58.7 receiving yards per game in 1976.
Other notable #45: Dan Lewis.
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46: Rudy Redmond
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1972
NFL career: 1969-72
Stat sheet: Intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown; recovered one fumble; 88-yard interception return was NFL's longest in 1972.
47: Ryan McNeil
Position: Defensive back
Played for Lions: 1993-1996
NFL career: 1993-2003
Stat sheet: Intercepted 10 passes; recovered four fumbles; 221 total tackles.
Other notable #47: Jim Martin.
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48: Tom Vaughn
Position: Defensive back, return specialist
Played for Lions: 1965-71
NFL career: 1965-71
Stat sheet: Nine interceptions and nine fumble recoveries; averaged 25.7 yards on 62 kickoff returns and 9.0 yards on 33 punt returns; averaged 9.9 yards on punt returns in 1966 to finish second in NFL.
Other notable #48: Don Muhlbach
49: Larry Walton
Position: Wide receiver, flanker
Played for Lions: 1969-76
NFL career: 1969-78
Stat sheet: Caught 169 passes for 2,623 yards and 26 touchdowns; rushed 13 times for 127 yards and one TD; averaged 26.4 yards on 14 kickoff returns; completed 2 of 3 passes for 72 yards and one TD.
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50: Paul Naumoff
Position: Linebacker
Played for Lions: 1967-78
NFL career: 1967-78
Stat sheet: Started 141 of 168 games; intercepted six passes; recovered seven fumbles; 21 tackles in one game is a team record; named to one Pro Bowl.
Other notable #50: Charlie Ane