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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL DEs ever

By Caleb Calhoun

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 19: Defensive lineman Reggie White #92 of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the sideline before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on November 19, 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Packers defeated the Browns 31-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 19: Defensive lineman Reggie White #92 of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the sideline before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on November 19, 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Packers defeated the Browns 31-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images
Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images /

839. Pick Analysis. Years in NFL: 13. player. 5. Scouting Report. 1952-1954. Darris McCord

Teams played for:

  • Detroit Lions, 1955-1967

As we said, Tennessee football’s tradition of elite pro defensive ends goes way back. Darris McCord was part of an end to an era. His three years on Rocky Top marked Robert Neyland’s last season and then the two seasons with Neyland’s chosen successor, Harvey Robinson. Unfortunately for McCord, he graduated before he could play for Bowden Wyatt’s early UT teams.

Still, McCord was an All-SEC lineman, and his success allowed for him to be taken in the third round of the 1955 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, who played in his hometown. In his first season, he actually was a full-time starter at offensive line. However, at 6’4″ 250 pounds, he moved over to the defensive line in 1956, and that’s where he became a superstar.

In 1957, McCord had easily the best season of his career, making a Pro Bowl and helping Detroit win the NFL Championship. That remains the last championship ever won by the Lions. After spending time at both defensive tackle and defensive end in 1956, 1957 and 1958, McCord moved over to defensive end full-time in 1959, and he remained there for the rest of his career.

Over 13 years, McCord, who passed away in 2013, was a model of consistency. A mark of his career was his durability, as he appeared in all but two games with the Lions during that run. He also knew how to score, as McCord registered two safeties during his time in the pros and scored a touchdown off one of his nine fumble recoveries. Oh, and he had three interceptions.

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