Greg Landry, a former quarterback and assistant coach for the Detroit Lions, passed away at the age of 77. The announcement of his death was made by the Lions on social media, but no specific cause was given.
Landry had a long and successful career in the NFL, playing from 1968 to 1981 with the Lions and the Baltimore Colts. He also spent two seasons in the USFL before returning to the NFL for a brief stint with the Chicago Bears. Throughout his career, Landry threw for over 16,000 yards, with 98 touchdowns and 103 interceptions. He was known for his dual-threat abilities as a running quarterback, accumulating over 2,600 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
Drafted by the Lions in 1968, Landry played 11 seasons with the team and had a record of 40-41-3. His standout season came in 1971 when he passed for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. In 1976, he was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year after a strong season with the Lions.
After his time in Detroit, Landry went on to play for the Baltimore Colts and had coaching stints with various NFL teams, including the Lions, Cleveland, and Chicago. He also coached at the college level with Illinois.
Originally from Nashua, New Hampshire, Landry had a successful collegiate career at UMass, leading the team in passing for three seasons and earning induction into the UMass Hall of Fame in 1980.
Greg Landry’s impact on the NFL as both a player and coach will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike. His contributions to the sport will not be forgotten.
