Former Lions cornerback and current Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Officially, LeBeau is the 14th player to be elected to the Hall of Fame as a Detroit Lion, joining the likes of Dick Lane, Yale Lary, and Lem Barney, who were all teammates of LeBeau's in the Lions' defensive backfield. LeBeau will officially enter the Hall of Fame in August alongside Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith, who comprise the rest of the 2010 class of inductees.
LeBeau's career with the Lions began after he was cut by the Browns, which had originally selected him in the fifth round of the 1959 draft. The Lions brought him in as a free agent and the rest is history. LeBeau spent all 14 seasons of his career with the Lions and went on to become an outstanding cornerback. He made the Pro Bowl from 1965-67 and finished his career with 62 interceptions, which is the third-most of any cornerback in league history. Also, LeBeau holds the record for the most consecutive game appearances (171) by a cornerback.
Here is what Tom Lewand had to say about the news that LeBeau was elected to the Hall of Fame:
"The Detroit Lions and the William Clay Ford family congratulate Dick LeBeau on being selected for enshrinement into Pro Football Hall Fame. As one of the NFL's all-time great cornerbacks, this recognition is extremely well deserved.
"Few players in Lions' history were as productive and durable as Dick was during his 14-year career. Not only was he a critical piece of several outstanding defenses during his career, but he also played the game with tremendous class and dignity. In 1970, Dick eclipsed the franchise's all-time record with a remarkable 62 career interceptions, a mark that still stands after almost 40 years."Dick was a special player, and he now joins 17 players in Lions' history to bestowed this great honor."
Congratulations to Dick LeBeau for achieving this great honor.