Dick "Night Train" Lane
Inducted:
1974
Player Stats
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
Born:
April 16, 1928
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Died:
January 29, 2002
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Position:
Cornerback
College:
Scottsbluff (1947)
Dick “Night Train” Lane was one of the most feared and dynamic defensive backs in NFL history. Known for his hard-hitting tackles and unmatched ball-hawking skills, Lane set the single-season interception record with 14 picks in 1952 — a mark that still stands today. Over his 14-year career, he played for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, and Detroit Lions, earning a reputation for toughness and instinctive playmaking.
Despite entering the league as an undrafted player, Lane’s impact was immediate and lasting, redefining the cornerback position with his aggressive style and game-changing ability. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and ten-time All-Pro, he was named to the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams. Lane was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974, honored as one of the greatest defensive players ever to play the game.
Lane's Awards and Honors
- 7× First-team All-Pro (1956, 1957, 1959–1963)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (1954, 1958, 1963)
- 7× Pro Bowl (1954–1956, 1958, 1960–1962)
- 2× NFL interceptions leader (1952, 1954)
- NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
- NFL 50th, 75th & 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams
NFL Records
- Holds NFL record for most interceptions in a single season (14, 1952)
- Widely regarded as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history
NFL Teams
Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953)
Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959)
Detroit Lions (1960–1965)