The Detroit Lions announced the passing of former Pro Bowl quarterback Greg Landry. He was seventy-seven. The cause of death was kept private. The Lions posted on X, saying, “We join the NFL community in mourning the loss of former Lions quarterback and coach Greg Landry.” From 1968 to 1981, Landry participated in 14 NFL seasons, spending his first 11 with the Lions and his final three with the Baltimore Colts. After beginning for the Lions in 1971, he threw for 2,237 yards, 16 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a league-high 16.4 average yards per completion. He was also chosen to the NFL Pro Bowl. In addition, he came in ninth place in the Associated Press Most Valuable Player vote.
As the starting quarterback for the Lions in 1971 and 1972, Landry guided the team to a 15-11-2 record. However, in the three seasons that followed, he only made 13 starts. In 1976, Landry was awarded the Pro Football Writers Association Comeback Player of the Year after starting 12 of 14 games and throwing for 2,191 yards with 17 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. In 1979, after playing for the Lions for 11 seasons, Landry was moved to Baltimore, where he started one season as the starting quarterback and the other two as a backup.
Landry played two seasons in the USFL in 1982 and 1983, but returned to the NFL in 1984 to start one game for the Mike Ditka-coached Chicago Bears, which he led to a 30-13 win over the rival Lions in his final game. For his 15-year NFL career, Landry threw for 16,052 yards, 98 touchdowns and 103 interceptions with a 55.5 completion percentage.
In 1985, his first year retired from playing in the NFL, Landry became the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. He then spent the next seven seasons with the Bears, including the final four as offensive coordinator from 1989 to 1992. He also served as OC for the University of Illinois football team for two seasons and coached two seasons as quarterbacks coach for the Lions.
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