Greg Landry, a former quarterback and coach, passed away at the age of 77, as announced by the Detroit Lions on Friday. While no cause of death was given, the NFL community has joined in mourning his loss. Landry’s career spanned over several decades, during which he made notable contributions both as a player and a coach.
Landry’s NFL career began in 1968 when the Detroit Lions drafted him 11th overall from UMass. He spent 11 seasons with the Lions, accumulating 16,052 passing yards, 98 touchdowns, and 103 interceptions. Known as one of the best running quarterbacks of his era, Landry also rushed for over 2,600 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. His standout season came in 1971 when he was named a first-team All-Pro and earned his only Pro Bowl selection.
In 1976, after a brief decline in performance, Landry made a successful comeback, earning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. He was traded to the Baltimore Colts, where he played for three seasons, and later had brief stints in the USFL with the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers. In 1984, Landry made a one-game return to the NFL, starting for the Chicago Bears against his former team, Detroit.
Landry’s coaching career began after his playing days were over. He returned to the Detroit Lions in 1995 as a quarterbacks coach under head coach Wayne Fontes. Over the years, Landry also held assistant coaching positions with the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, as well as at the University of Illinois, contributing to both NFL and college football.
A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Landry was a standout at UMass, where he led the team in passing for three seasons and was the top rusher in 1965 and 1967. He was inducted into the UMass Hall of Fame in 1980, cementing his legacy as one of the university’s greatest athletes.
