Joe Schmidt - Professional Career

Professional Career

Schmidt worked his way into the lineup, helping Detroit to its second straight NFL title as a rookie. By 1956, Schmidt was named a team captain, a designation he would hold for the next nine years, with his defensive skills resulting in his calling signals for the team.

The latter duty resulted in an amusing, if painful, moment for Schmidt that year, when many teams were experimenting with radio receivers to send signals. On one occasion, Lions' assistant coach Buster Ramsey was so upset after one play that he slammed the radio receiver to the ground, with Schmidt jumping after being on the noisy end of Ramsey's anger.

The following year, Schmidt was named the top defensive player in the NFL, when he made roughly half of the team's tackles on the season. The award was the first of four times that he would receive the honor, with his outstanding play an important part of the Lions' third title in six years. However, Schmidt's 1957 salary of $11,000 became a sticking point before the start of the next season, and after six months of military service during the off-season, Schmidt was a holdout as training camp began. He later signed and finished the year with six interceptions, while also establishing a new NFL record that year by recovering eight fumbles.

Schmidt's physical toughness was put on greater display as injuries began to strike in 1960. After suffering a dislocated shoulder in the September 11 exhibition game, Schmidt was expected to miss six weeks, but instead was back after a month and scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on October 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Two years later, Schmidt battled bruised ribs, but after the year had ended, his career was in peril for activities off the field when he became involved in a gambling investigation. After he admitted wagering on the 1962 NFL Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants, Schmidt (along with four teammates) was fined $2,000.

In each of the next two seasons, shoulder troubles continued, but Schmidt continued to be the focal point of the Lions defense.

In 1999, he was ranked number 65 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Number 65 was also his uniform number at Pitt, and the school retired it. As a Lion, he wore number 56, and this number was retired as well. Schmidt personally allowed Pat Swilling to wear the number 56 during Swilling's time with the Lions. No player has worn it since.