Greg Landry, former Detroit Lions quarterback and assistant coach, has passed away at the age of 77.
The Lions confirmed his death on social media Friday, though no cause was disclosed. “We join the NFL community in mourning the loss of former Lions quarterback and coach Greg Landry,” the team posted.
Landry played in the NFL from 1968 to 1981, spending the majority of his career with the Lions before finishing with the Baltimore Colts. He later played briefly in the USFL and made a single appearance for the Chicago Bears in 1984. Throughout his NFL career, Landry threw for 16,052 yards, with 98 touchdowns and 103 interceptions, and also gained over 2,600 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns, making him one of the league’s top running quarterbacks.
Selected 11th overall by the Lions in the 1968 NFL Draft from UMass, Landry spent 11 seasons with Detroit, compiling a 40-41-3 record. His standout year came in 1971 when he threw for 2,237 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pro honors and his only Pro Bowl appearance. In 1976, he was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year after passing for 2,191 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Landry was traded to the Colts, where he played for three seasons. He also played in the USFL with the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers before making a one-game appearance for the Bears in 1984, serving as an emergency starter against Detroit.
Greg Landry
In addition to his playing career, Landry returned to coaching, rejoining the Lions as quarterbacks coach in 1995 under head coach Wayne Fontes. He also held coaching roles with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and at the University of Illinois.
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Landry starred at UMass, where he led the team in passing for three seasons and was the top rusher and scorer in 1965 and 1967. He was inducted into the UMass Hall of Fame in 1980.
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