Bloomington, Minn. — Nearly 50 years after he finished his career with the Detroit Lions, Alex Karras is still one of the franchise’s most recognizable names.
The four-time All-Pro, who went on to have a lengthy career in acting, was a larger-than-life figure, whether he was hunting down quarterbacks as part of the Lions’ Fearsome Foursome or knocking out a horse playing Mongo in the 1974 comedy classic “Blazing Saddles.”
But one thing Karras never accomplished in his 12 seasons with the Lions was winning a championship. He was drafted by the team in the first round in 1958, the year after the franchise’s last title.