1961 Topps football card of former Detroit Lions’ linebacker Joe Schmidt, a dedicated Lion who played 13 seasons with the team and also served as their head coach for 6 years. As a player, he was a 10-time Pro Bowler, 2-time NFL Defensive MVP, member of the NFL All Decade team of the 1950s, and a major part of Detroit championship teams in 1953 and 1957. He served 6 months in the U.S. Army after the ’57 season. Some perspective relating to players of the 1960s compared to today: Schmidt was the Lions’ highest paid defensive player in 1963, making $22,000 for the year. As a coach, he compiled a winning record but only got the Lions to the playoffs once. Schmidt had his jersey number 56 retired by the franchise, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.