Detroit Lions: The Most Underrated Players In Team History
Mel Gray
Despite the Lions’ recent struggles in the kick return game (including the Stefan Logan roller coaster of fun), they have had some excellent kick returners in the best few decades, including Desmond Howard, Eddie Drummond and the best of all of them, Mel Gray.
Gray came to the Lions in 1989 after three seasons with the New Orleans Saints and two seasons in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express. He immediately made his mark, making the Pro Bowl in 1990. He used his 5’9,” 171 frame to his advantage, juking out and slipping past would-be tacklers on the Silverdome turf.
Gray played for six seasons purely as a return man in Detroit, where he made the Pro Bowl four times and was named first-team All-Pro three times. When the Lions went 12-4 in 1991 he led the league in both kick and punt return average and in 1994 he led the NFL with three kick return touchdowns.
Gray was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team as the second-team kick and punt returner. He is the Lions’ franchise leader in kick return yardage (5,478), kick return touchdowns (5) and punt return yardage (1,427). He averaged over 25 yards per kick return and 10 yards per punt return with the team.
After leaving Detroit, he played for the Houston Oilers and Philadelphia Eagles before his career ended in 1997. He is currently ranked fourth all-time in the NFL in career combined kick and punt return yards (13,003) and third in career kick return touchdowns (6).
Next: 7. Wayne Walker