Joe Schmidt, the legendary linebacker who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and led the Detroit Lions to their most recent championship in 1957, passed away on Wednesday, as confirmed by his family to the Free Press on Thursday. He was 92 years old.

Schmidt dedicated twenty years to the Lions both as a player and a coach, cementing his status as a celebrated figure in the franchise’s legacy. He is an eight-time first-team All-Pro, a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team, and played a crucial role in transforming defensive tactics by introducing the modern middle linebacker position.

“He was like having another coach on the field,” recalled Schmidt’s teammate, Roger Zatkoff, in an interview with the Free Press in June 2020. “I remember times when he would tell me to adjust my position, like ‘Hey, move over here, one man to your left,’ because we had to change up our defense. He was adept at making those adjustments, often without the coaches being aware.”

Drafted in the seventh round out of the University of Pittsburgh in 1953, Schmidt made an impact as a rookie, stepping in for LaVern Torgeson early in the season and helping the Lions clinch the championship.

The Lions triumphed over the Cleveland Browns 17-16 in December, marking their third championship victory. In the title game, Schmidt forced a fumble from Otto Graham that led to the Lions’ first touchdown, and he subsequently made the Pro Bowl for the following ten years.

“He was simply the best,” stated Gene Cronin, who played with Schmidt from 1956 to 1959. “There was a rumor at one point about making a movie called ‘The Violent World of Sam Huff,’ and while Huff was a great middle linebacker, Gino Marchetti chimed in saying, ‘If they make a movie, they better cast Joe Schmidt.’ That’s one of the highest compliments I’ve ever heard.”

Prior to Schmidt’s rise to prominence, many NFL teams, including the Lions, utilized a five-man defensive front featuring a large guard in the middle.

Initially playing as a fullback and guard during his college years, Schmidt transitioned to linebacker in his second year at Pittsburgh, where his quickness and agility enabled him to excel as a run-stopper.

With the Lions, he was an outside linebacker for his first two years before taking over as middle linebacker in 1955 when Coach Buddy Parker shifted to a 4-3 defense after retirements on the front line.

Under Schmidt’s guidance, the Lions boasted some of the fiercest defenses in the NFL.

“Almost every team soon shifted to a 4-3 defense with the middle linebacker as a central figure,” Coach Parker mentioned to the Free Press. “Schmidt’s agility alleviated some of the burdens on the defensive backs when it came to pass defense.”

“In fact, his unique playing style contributed to the development of zone defenses, rotational defenses, and the modern defensive strategies we see in professional football today.”

Born during the Great Depression in 1932, Schmidt spent his formative years in Pittsburgh. He lost his father at the age of 12 and had an older brother who was killed in World War II. Throughout his youth, he looked up to another older brother, John, who played football at Carnegie Tech and also coached a semi-professional team, the St. Clair Veterans.

As a teenager, Schmidt played sandlot football with the Lions, and, as reported by The Saturday Evening Post, he even competed against a team of convicts at the Western State Penitentiary when he was just 14.

During his time at the University of Pittsburgh, Schmidt dealt with multiple injuries, suffering from two broken ribs, a broken wrist, a separated shoulder, and a serious concussion.

Due to these injuries, his draft stock fell in 1953, and the Lions selected him as their fifth choice, following guard Harley Sewell, halfback Gene Gedman, and tackles Charlie Ane and Ollie Spencer. Sewell, Gedman, and Ane were also key players on the Lions’ championship teams in ‘53 and ‘57.

“Statistically, I would have to say that he was marginal. He was 6 feet tall and 220 pounds,” commented former Lions owner William Clay Ford during Schmidt’s Hall of Fame induction in 1973. “Joe often claims he was 6-3 at one point, but after tackling so many fullbacks, it compressed his neck into his shoulders, making him now just 6 feet.”

“Yet there are qualities that scouts or anyone evaluating a player cannot quantify things like desire, leadership, and courage. Nobody truly understood just how much of these traits Joe possessed, and he had them in abundance.”

Schmidt was named the Lions’ Most Valuable Player in 1955, 1957-58, and 1961. He played a crucial role in the formation of what is now the NFL Players Association during the 1950s and was instrumental in securing training camp compensation and pensions for players.

After retiring at the end of the 1965 season, he spent a year as an assistant coach working under Harry Gilmer before taking over as head coach a year later, achieving a record of 43 wins, 35 losses, and 7 ties over his seven seasons.

“I had a passion for football, and I joined a championship team as a seventh-round draft pick. I never really believed I could make the team, so I consider myself lucky to have done so,” Schmidt shared with the Free Press in 2017. “I loved the camaraderie, celebrating championships, and the career opportunities I found after sports. Everything I have is rooted in my football experience here in Detroit.”

“If you put in the work here, the people in the industry are very rewarding. The sports culture in Detroit is amazing; fans passionately support the Lions, especially during our winning seasons. I’m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities that came my way thanks to the Detroit Lions.”

During his playing career, Schmidt started a business in automotive services, selling rubber and plastic to the Big Three automakers. He is survived by his wife, Marilynn, and their five children.

There will not be any public memorial service; instead, the family has opted for a private ceremony.

Get in touch with Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X (@davebirkett).