On October 4, 2024, the football community mourned the loss of Greg Landry, former Detroit Lions quarterback and assistant coach, who passed away at the age of 77. His life was marked by a notable football career as both a player and a coach that spanned nearly 20 years.
Landry’s football journey started at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), where he demonstrated immense talent as a quarterback. He was renowned for his powerful arm and running skills. His college record boasts a 145.4 quarterback efficiency rating in 1965, a school record, and he propelled UMass to victory in two Yankee Conference Championships. According to the UMass Athletics Department’s tribute, Landry was the team’s leading rusher and scorer in the years 1965 and 1967.
The Detroit Lions drafted Landry as the 11th overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft, marking the beginning of his professional career. Landry became the starting quarterback for the Lions from 1968 to 1978. His most notable year was 1971 when he was selected for the Pro Bowl after throwing for 2,237 yards and 16 touchdowns. Landry’s rushing abilities were also laudable, with more than 2,600 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns throughout his NFL career.
In 1979, after a trade, Landry spent three seasons with the Baltimore Colts. He then moved on to the United States Football League (USFL), playing for the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers. His playing career came to an end in 1984 after a single emergency game for the Chicago Bears. Landry retired with 16,052 passing yards, 98 touchdowns, and 103 interceptions to his name.
The Detroit Lions expressed their condolences, joining the NFL community in mourning their former quarterback and coach, via a post on social media.
Following his retirement as a player, Landry transitioned into coaching. He served multiple NFL teams, including the Lions, Bears, and Browns, and took on the role of offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois. Landry was a dedicated and influential figure in football, guiding some of the league’s top players until his last coaching stint with the Lions in the mid-1990s.
Landry’s legacy is not just defined by his impressive stats. In 2012, he was honored with an induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, further establishing his place among football’s iconic figures. Landry is remembered not only as a skilled athlete but also as a respected mentor whose influence on the players he coached was profound.