You Are Here > Pro-Football-Reference.com > Teams > Detroit Lions > 1955 Starters, Roster, & Players
1955 Detroit Lions
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 3-9-0, Finished 6th in NFL West Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 230 points (19.2/g), 8th of 12 in the NFL.
Allowed 275 points (22.9/g), 9th.
Differential of -45 points (-3.8/g), 10th.
Expected W-L: 4.7-7.3.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential -2 (-0.2/g), 8th.
Coached by Buddy Parker (3-9-0)
Promote your website or business by sponsoring this page for $10 per year on Pro-Football-Reference.com.
1955 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
Glossary · ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+), · CSV · PRE · Hide Non-primary Starters| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | Bobby Layne | 29 | 7 | 10 | 143 for 270, 1,830 yards, 11 td, 17 int, & 31 rushes for 111 yards and 0 td | Chicago Bears / 1st / 3rd pick / 1948 |
| QB | Harry Gilmer | 29 | 7 | 2 | 58 for 122, 633 yards, 2 td, 4 int, & 15 rushes for 67 yards and 0 td | Washington Redskins / 1st / 1st pick / 1948 |
| FB | Lew Carpenter | 23 | 2 | 0 | 137 rushes for 543 yards, 6 td, & 44 catches for 312 yards and 2 td | Detroit Lions / 8th / 97th pick / 1953 |
| LH | Doak Walker* | 28 | 5 | 0 | 23 rushes for 95 yards, 2 td, & 22 catches for 428 yards and 5 td | New York Bulldogs / 1st / 3rd pick / 1949 |
| RH | Dave Middleton | 22 | Rook | 0 | 59 rushes for 201 yards, 2 td, & 44 catches for 663 yards and 3 td | Detroit Lions / 1st / 12th pick / 1955 |
| RH | Bob Hoernschemeyer | 30 | 9 | 0 | 36 rushes for 109 yards, 1 td, & 5 catches for 36 yards and 0 td | New York Giants / 11th / 94th pick / 1947 |
| LE | Jim Doran | 28 | 4 | 0 | 38 catches for 552 yards, 2 td | Detroit Lions / 5th / 55th pick / 1951 |
| LE | Dorne Dibble | 26 | 4 | 0 | 14 catches for 179 yards, 2 td | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 33rd pick / 1951 |
| LT | Lou Creekmur* | 28 | 5 | 0 | Philadelphia Eagles / 26th / 243rd pick / 1948 |
|
| LG | Harley Sewell | 24 | 2 | 0 | 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 1st / 13th pick / 1953 |
| C | Andy Miketa | 26 | 1 | 0 | ||
| RG | Dick Stanfel* | 28 | 3 | 0 | 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 19th pick / 1951 |
| RG | George Atkins | 23 | Rook | 0 | 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 15th / 180th pick / 1955 |
| RT | Charlie Ane | 24 | 2 | 0 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 49th pick / 1953 |
|
| RT | Bob Miller | 26 | 3 | 0 | 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 5th / 58th pick / 1952 |
| RT | Jim Salsbury | 23 | Rook | 0 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 24th pick / 1955 |
|
| RE | Jug Girard | 28 | 7 | 0 | 23 catches for 301 yards, 0 td, & 10 rushes for 27 yards and 0 td | Green Bay Packers / 1st / 7th pick / 1948 |
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Sonny Gandee | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 9th / 106th pick / 1952 |
| LDT | Darris McCord | 22 | Rook | 0 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 36th pick / 1955 |
| MG | Jim Ricca | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | |
| RDT | Bob Miller | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 5th / 58th pick / 1952 |
| RDE | Jim Cain | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Chicago Cardinals / 7th / 70th pick / 1949 |
| LLB | Jim Martin | 31 | 5 | 0 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 26th pick / 1950 |
|
| RLB | Joe Schmidt*+ | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 8 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 7th / 85th pick / 1953 |
| LDH | Jim David* | 28 | 3 | 0 | 3 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 22nd / 261st pick / 1952 |
| RDH | Bill Stits | 24 | 1 | 0 | 3 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 4th / 44th pick / 1954 |
| LS | Jack Christiansen*+ | 27 | 4 | 0 | 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 6th / 69th pick / 1951 |
| RS | Carl Karilivacz | 25 | 2 | 0 | 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 23rd / 277th pick / 1953 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Doak Walker* | 28 | 5 | 0 | 9 of 16 field goals & 27 of 29 extra points | New York Bulldogs / 1st / 3rd pick / 1949 |
| P | Jug Girard | 28 | 7 | 0 | 56 punts for a 41.2 average, 0 blocked | Green Bay Packers / 1st / 7th pick / 1948 |
| PR | Lee Riley | 23 | Rook | 0 | 14 punt returns for a 7.6 average and 0 td | Detroit Lions / 4th / 48th pick / 1955 |
| KR | Dave Middleton | 22 | Rook | 0 | 11 kick returns for a 17.1 average and 0 td | Detroit Lions / 1st / 12th pick / 1955 |
| Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Ane | 24 | T-C | 12 | 0 | 260 | 6-2 | USC | 1/25/1931 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 49th pick / 1953 |
| George Atkins | 23 | G | 12 | 0 | 210 | 6-1 | Auburn | 4/10/1932 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 15th / 180th pick / 1955 |
| Bud Brooks | 25 | G | 1 | 0 | 210 | 6-0 | Arkansas | 9/6/1930 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 5th / 60th pick / 1955 |
| Jim Cain | 28 | DE-E | 12 | 0 | 202 | 6-1 | Alabama | 10/1/1927 | 6 | Chicago Cardinals / 7th / 70th pick / 1949 |
| Stan Campbell | 25 | G | 7 | 0 | 226 | 6-0 | Iowa State | 8/26/1930 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 18th / 213th pick / 1952 |
| Lew Carpenter | 23 | HB-FB | 12 | 0 | 220 | 6-1 | Arkansas | 1/12/1932 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 8th / 97th pick / 1953 |
| Jack Christiansen*+ | 27 | DB | 9 | 0 | 205 | 6-1 | Colorado State | 12/20/1928 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 6th / 69th pick / 1951 |
| Lou Creekmur* | 28 | T-G-DG-DT | 12 | 0 | 246 | 6-4 | William & Mary | 1/22/1927 | 5 | Philadelphia Eagles / 26th / 243rd pick / 1948 |
| Leon Cunningham | 24 | LB-C | 8 | 0 | 215 | 6-3 | South Carolina | 8/19/1931 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 8th / 90th pick / 1955 |
| Jim David* | 28 | DB | 12 | 0 | 178 | 5-11 | Colorado State | 12/2/1927 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 22nd / 261st pick / 1952 |
| Dorne Dibble | 26 | E-DB | 8 | 0 | 195 | 6-2 | Michigan State | 4/26/1929 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 33rd pick / 1951 |
| Jim Doran | 28 | E-DE | 10 | 0 | 201 | 6-2 | Buena Vista,Iowa State | 8/11/1927 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 5th / 55th pick / 1951 |
| Dom Fucci | 27 | DB | 12 | 0 | 190 | 5-11 | Kentucky | 9/14/1928 | Rook | Washington Redskins / 18th / 210th pick / 1951 |
| Sonny Gandee | 26 | LB-DE | 12 | 0 | 216 | 6-1 | Ohio State | 2/27/1929 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 9th / 106th pick / 1952 |
| Harry Gilmer | 29 | QB-HB | 8 | 2 | 169 | 6-0 | Alabama | 4/14/1926 | 7 | Washington Redskins / 1st / 1st pick / 1948 |
| Jug Girard | 28 | E-HB-QB-DB | 12 | 0 | 176 | 5-11 | Wisconsin | 1/25/1927 | 7 | Green Bay Packers / 1st / 7th pick / 1948 |
| Leon Hart | 27 | E-FB-DE | 11 | 0 | 257 | 6-5 | Notre Dame | 11/2/1928 | 5 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 1st pick / 1950 |
| Bob Hoernschemeyer | 30 | B | 5 | 0 | 194 | 5-11 | Indiana,Navy | 9/24/1925 | 9 | New York Giants / 11th / 94th pick / 1947 |
| Walt Jenkins | 25 | DE-DT | 2 | 0 | 223 | 6-2 | Wayne State (MI) | 12/9/1930 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 9th / 108th pick / 1955 |
| Carl Karilivacz | 25 | DB-HB | 12 | 0 | 188 | 6-0 | Syracuse | 11/20/1930 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 23rd / 277th pick / 1953 |
| Bobby Layne | 29 | QB | 12 | 10 | 201 | 6-1 | Texas | 12/19/1926 | 7 | Chicago Bears / 1st / 3rd pick / 1948 |
| Bob W. Long | 21 | LB | 10 | 0 | 232 | 6-3 | UCLA | 2/24/1934 | Rook | Los Angeles Rams / 2nd / 18th pick / 1955 |
| Gil Mains | 26 | DT-DE | 12 | 0 | 243 | 6-2 | Murray State | 12/17/1929 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 20th / 237th pick / 1952 |
| Jim Martin | 31 | G-LB-K | 9 | 0 | 227 | 6-2 | Notre Dame | 4/8/1924 | 5 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 26th pick / 1950 |
| Darris McCord | 22 | DE-DT-T | 12 | 0 | 250 | 6-4 | Tennessee | 1/4/1933 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 36th pick / 1955 |
| Dave Middleton | 22 | E-HB-FL | 12 | 0 | 194 | 6-1 | Auburn | 11/23/1933 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 1st / 12th pick / 1955 |
| Andy Miketa | 26 | C | 12 | 0 | 210 | 6-2 | North Carolina | 11/1/1929 | 1 | |
| Bob Miller | 26 | DT-T | 12 | 0 | 242 | 6-3 | Virginia | 12/11/1929 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 5th / 58th pick / 1952 |
| Jim Ricca | 28 | MG-T-G-DT | 6 | 0 | 270 | 6-4 | Georgetown (DC) | 10/8/1927 | 4 | |
| Lee Riley | 23 | DB | 12 | 0 | 192 | 6-1 | Detroit Mercy | 8/24/1932 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 4th / 48th pick / 1955 |
| Jim Salsbury | 23 | G-T | 12 | 0 | 233 | 6-1 | UCLA | 8/8/1932 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 24th pick / 1955 |
| Joe Schmidt*+ | 23 | LB | 12 | 0 | 220 | 6-1 | Pittsburgh | 1/19/1932 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 7th / 85th pick / 1953 |
| Harley Sewell | 24 | G-LB | 12 | 0 | 230 | 6-1 | Texas | 4/18/1931 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 13th pick / 1953 |
| Dick Stanfel* | 28 | G | 9 | 0 | 236 | 6-3 | San Francisco | 7/20/1927 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 19th pick / 1951 |
| Bill Stits | 24 | DB-HB | 12 | 0 | 194 | 6-4 | UCLA | 7/26/1931 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 44th pick / 1954 |
| Ted Topor | 25 | LB | 6 | 0 | 210 | 6-1 | Michigan | 5/1/1930 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 15th / 181st pick / 1953 |
| Doak Walker* | 28 | HB-DB | 12 | 0 | 173 | 5-11 | SMU | 1/1/1927 | 5 | New York Bulldogs / 1st / 3rd pick / 1949 |
| Richie Woit | 24 | DB | 1 | 0 | 175 | 5-8 | Arkansas State | 7/5/1931 | Rook | Detroit Lions / 25th / 301st pick / 1954 |
| Walt Yowarsky | 27 | DE-C-T | 2 | 0 | 234 | 6-2 | Kentucky | 5/10/1928 | 4 | Washington Redskins / 3rd / 29th pick / 1951 |
| Team Total | 25.8 | 12 | 214.0 | 6-1.3 | 2.7 |