Lou Creekmur
Inducted:
1996
Player Stats
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
246 lb (112 kg)
Born:
January 22, 1927
Hopelawn, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:
July 5, 2009
Tamarac, Florida, U.S.
Position:
Offensive tackle
College:
William & Mary (1944; 1947–1949)
Lou Creekmur was the cornerstone of the Detroit Lions' dominant offensive line in the 1950s. After serving in the Army during WWII, he joined the Lions in 1950 and played every single snap from his rookie season through 1958—a streak of 165 consecutive games.
Versatile and durable, he began as a guard before moving to tackle, earning All-Pro honors six times and Pro Bowl nods eight straight years. Creekmur anchored the line during Detroit’s three NFL championship runs in 1952, 1953, and 1957. Known as "The Spirit," he protected quarterbacks like Bobby Layne and paved the way for powerful rushers like Doak Walker.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Creekmur is remembered as one of the toughest, most reliable linemen in NFL history.
Creekmur's Awards and Records
- 3× NFL champion (1952, 1953, 1957)
- 6× First-team All-Pro (1951–1954, 1956, 1957)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1955, 1958)
- 8× Pro Bowl (1950–1957)
- Pride of the Lions
- Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team
- Detroit Lions All-Time Team
- Second-team All-SoCon (1949)
NFL Teams
Detroit Lions (1950–1959)
NFL Draft:
1948: 26th round, 243rd pick
Detroit Lions
Number Worn:
76
NFL Stats
NFL Seasons:
10 (1950–1959)
Games Played:
116
Games Started:
107
Positions:
Offensive Guard (1950–51)
Offensive Tackle (1952–59)
Consecutive Games Played:
165 (1950–58)
Fumble Recoveries:
3