Detroit Lions Top 50: #29-25 with VIDEO

25. Al “Bubba” Baker, DE, 1978-1982

Al “Bubba” Baker was drafted in the second round of the 1978 draft by the Detroit Lions.

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He made his mark early as he began his NFL career with the Lions with an incredible 23 sacks (an unofficial stat at that time) his rookie year, with five sacks in a single game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a team record that still stands today. He played for the Lions for five seasons, starting 66 of 67 games. In his last season with the Lions, 1982, when sacks became an official statistic, he totaled eight point five in only nine games. He also had two career interceptions with the Lions.

Not only is he second on the Lions’ all-time sacks list with 75.5 (behind only Robert Porcher, whose Lions career was more than twice as long), but he is responsible for each of the Lions’ top three seasons in terms of sack totals.

The only reason “Bubba” Baker isn’t a top-10 all-time player for the Lions is because he spent only five seasons with the Lions.