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The Life And Career Of Bobby Layne (Story)

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The Detroit Lions helmet on the field
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

 

People often say that “Everything is bigger in Texas.”

If that saying applies to character, it was certainly true for Bobby Layne.

Born and raised in the Lone Star State, Layne became one of the biggest stars in the history of the University of Texas.

After an iconic career with the Longhorns, Layne played in the NFL for 15 years and won three championships with the Detroit Lions.

“The Blonde Bomber” made a name for himself with his fierce desire to win and for demanding the best from his teammates.

Unfortunately, Layne was also known for an exuberant lifestyle away from the game, which included overconsumption of alcohol.

His health ultimately took a turn for the worse, and he passed away at the age of 59.

This is the story of Bobby Layne.

 

Rough Early Years

Robert “Bobby” Lawrence Layne was born on December 19, 1926, in Santa Anna, Texas.

Layne’s father died of a heart attack when Bobby was just eight years old. His life had barely begun.

The loss of her husband greatly affected Layne’s mother, Bea, who struggled to make ends meet during The Great Depression.

Unable to keep her family together, Bea shipped Bobby off to Fort Worth to live with an aunt and uncle while his two sisters remained with her.

Eventually, Layne’s extended family adopted him, and they moved to Highland Park, Texas, before Bobby entered high school.

 

Layne and Walker

When he became a freshman at Highland Park High School, Layne was ready to prove his worth in athletics.

He loved to compete and played on the Highland Park football, basketball, and track teams.

Layne became the starting quarterback for the Scots, and his good friend, Doak Walker, was the starting running back.

Together, Layne and Walker decimated their opponents, eventually compiling a 26-2-2 record over two seasons.

During his senior year, Layne became All-State as he took Highland Park to the state playoffs, losing in the semifinal round.

He also earned a selection for the Oil Bowl, an all-star game that pitted East and West Texas prep players against each other.

Not only was Layne talented on the gridiron, but his hoops game was also off the charts. He became an All-State selection for that sport as well.

 

Layne Becomes a Longhorn

As his prep career wrapped up, Layne had a number of colleges to choose from.

However, he wanted to play for the University of Texas, and the school was only too happy to get him.

The only problem, initially, was for Layne to decide whether to play football or basketball for the ’Horns.

Although he enjoyed playing on the hardwood, Layne wanted to toss the pigskin, and he suited up for Coach Dana X. Bible.

At the time of his arrival in Austin in 1944, World War II was still in full swing, and a healthy number of college-age kids were in the military.

Because of the scarcity of available athletes, the NCAA relaxed its policy of not allowing freshmen to play collegiate sports.

That allowed Layne to play in 1944. He started at quarterback, led Texas to a 5-4 record, and was voted an All-SWC player.

Before his sophomore season, Layne and Walker joined the Merchant Marines to help in the war effort.

Months later, the war ended, and Layne returned to Austin while Walker headed to SMU where he would win the Heisman Trophy in 1948.

Six games had already been played by the time Layne arrived in 1945. He took the Longhorns to five consecutive wins to end the year with a 10-1 overall record.

Amazingly, his leadership during that short period led to a second All-SWC selection for him.

 

Layne Versus Missouri

The final contest of the 1945 season had the 9-1 Longhorns matched against the 6-3 Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl.

Without a doubt, Missouri was overmatched against Layne and his Texas mates.

In fact, Layne was responsible for defeating the Tigers all by himself.

During the contest, he scrambled for three touchdowns, completed 11 of 12 passes for two more scores, caught a 50-yard pass for another touchdown, and kicked all the Longhorns’ PATs.

When the smoke cleared, Texas had won easily, 40-27, and Layne was responsible for all of the Longhorns’ points.

His feat set several game records that lasted for decades, and his .917 completion percentage was nearly unattainable.

After the contest, Missouri’s coach, Chauncey Simpson, found his way to Layne and complimented him.

“I never saw a better job by anybody!”

Layne became part of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 1998.

 

Layne Becomes the “Blonde Bomber”

Layne’s accomplishments in his first two years at Texas were more than most college players achieved in four years, if at all.

His final two years would be even more memorable.

In 1946, Layne helped Texas reach an 8-2 final record while he led the Southwest Conference in total passing (1,115 yards), total offense (1,420 yards), and punting (42 yards per kick).

Layne became a second-team All-American and an All-SWC member for the third time, and he finished eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Before the 1947 season, Bible left the Texas program, and new coach Blair Cherry took over.

Cherry installed the T formation offense and worked closely with Layne to ensure the new playbook came together without a hitch.

Layne benefitted from the new offense by slinging footballs and running wild for even more yardage.

His prolific passes and slick running led to his nicknames, the “Blonde Bomber” and the “Gadabout Gladiator.”

The Longhorns lost only once during Layne’s senior year. They also beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl, 27-7.

His play earned Bobby numerous accolades, including consensus All-American, All-SWC, and a sixth-place finish in the Heisman race.

During his four-year run as the Longhorns’ starter, Layne completed 53% of his passes for 3,145 passing yards (a program record), 25 passing touchdowns, 1,560 rushing yards, and 29 rushing touchdowns.

Furthermore, Layne set 11 school records by the time he graduated. Voters inducted him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

 

Baseball Star

Baseball in the Infield

 

At the same time Layne was becoming a nationally renowned football player for Texas, he was also a flamethrower for the ‘Horns baseball team.

During his high school years, Layne played American Legion baseball and, as a pitcher, led his squad to a state title.

The sport was Layne’s favorite, and he matriculated to the Longhorns on a baseball scholarship.

Although he became known for his gridiron play, Layne almost gave up the sport so he could play on the diamond full-time in college.

“When I went to Texas, all I wanted to do at first was play baseball,” Layne once recalled.

Thankfully, Coach Bible coaxed Layne to play football as well, and the school benefitted from Layne’s play in both sports.

Just as he started right away as a freshman quarterback, Layne started on the Longhorns baseball team as a freshman pitcher in 1944.

In 1945, the sophomore fanned so many batters that he set a conference strikeout record that would last three decades.

That same year, Layne also tossed two no-hitters, the first two “no-nos” in the history of Longhorns baseball.

He dominated for four years on the mound and once had 28 straight wins on the way to a 35-3 overall record.

By graduation, Layne had a career average of 10.78 strikeouts per contest, was a four-time All-SWC pitcher, and helped Texas to three straight conference baseball championships between 1946 and 1948.

 

Layne Spurns the Steelers and Plays Baseball

Baseball Bat, Helmet, Glove and Ball

 

Pro scouts from the NFL, the All-America Football Conference, and MLB fought for Layne’s services in 1948.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him third overall in the 1948 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Colts also picked him second overall in the AAFC Draft.

Layne had no intention of playing for Pittsburgh because the franchise ran the single-wing offense.

That led Chicago Bears owner George Halas to swoop in and make a trade for the Blonde Bomber.

However, he had a few months before he had to report to the Bears, so Layne took an offer to play for the Lubbock (Texas) Hubbers baseball team.

The organization was a Class C team with the West Texas-New Mexico League.

“The only reason I did that,” he explained later, “was that some sportswriter said I couldn’t compete with the pros so that my record at Texas wasn’t that big a deal. So I just wanted to go out and show I could do it.”

During his short stay with the Hubbers, Layne compiled a 6-5 record and 7.29 ERA as a pitcher.

He also had seven hits in 34 at-bats.

Nevertheless, Layne’s pedestrian stats caught the attention of a few MLB clubs, including the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

Ultimately, a career in the NFL looked a lot better than the prospect of playing in the minor leagues.

“I hated those all-night bus rides,” he said. “That just wasn’t the life for me.”

 

Layne Starts for the Bulldogs

In the late summer of 1948, Layne left baseball behind for good and trekked to Chicago.

During his rookie year, Layne backed up Sid Luckman and Johnny Lujack and started one game.

Halas wanted him back in 1949, but Layne would not consider riding the pine for another season.

In an effort to get more playing time, Layne tried to get himself traded to the Green Bay Packers, but Halas didn’t want him playing for a rival.

Instead, the Bears’ boss dealt Layne to the New York Bulldogs for a first-round pick and cash.

Layne took the reins as the starter for the Bulldogs and passed for 1,796 yards and nine touchdowns.

He also threw 18 interceptions and had to run for his life from constant defensive pressure.

Despite Layne’s obvious talent, New York finished the year with just one victory.

 

Layne and Walker Reunite

Before the 1950 season began, the Bulldogs traded Layne to the Detroit Lions.

Remarkably, this trade reunited Layne with his former high school teammate, Doak Walker, whom the franchise had selected as the third overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft.

In their first year together, Layne led the NFL with 336 passing attempts, 2,323 passing yards, and 193.6 yards per contest along with 16 touchdowns and 18 picks.

Walker was a dual threat as a runner and receiver and netted nearly 1,000 yards combined.

Their play on the field didn’t translate to wins, however, and Detroit ended the 1950 season with a 6-6 record.

In 1951, new coach Buddy Parker joined the team and led the Lions to a 7-4-1 record.

His playbook helped Layne lead the NFL in several categories.

They included attempts (332), completions (152), yards (2,403), touchdowns (26), interceptions (23), and yards per game (200.3).

Layne also went to his first of six Pro Bowls that year.

 

Layne Leads Detroit to Back-to-Back Titles

Detroit Lions helmet
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

 

By 1952, Layne was considered the best quarterback in the NFL.

He demanded perfection on the field and became proficient at pro football’s early version of the two-minute offense.

“He demanded only the best and would accept only the best,” Doak Walker once said. “Here is a man who was a general on the field and off the field in every way. He was the greatest two-minute quarterback I have ever seen.”

The 1952 Lions were a solid football team filled with good players on both sides of the ball.

Of course, that didn’t stop Layne from getting in his teammates’ faces if they missed an assignment.

“If you ever missed a block, Layne made sure everybody knew about it,” former offensive tackle Lou Creekmur said. “Guys on the field, guys on the bench, everybody in the stadium knew it. He’d call you right out of the huddle. He would stand there, raving at you and shaking a finger in your face, and you wanted to punch him. A couple of times, we had to grab people to keep them from hitting Bobby.”

In 1952, Layne passed for almost 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns as Detroit went 9-3 and beat the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship game.

It was the organization’s first title since 1935, and Layne was voted to his first All-Pro team after the season.

The following year, the Blonde Bomber passed for over 2,000 yards and 16 scores and led the NFL in yards per completion with 16.7.

After their 10-2 regular season in 1953, the Lions won their second consecutive championship with a close 17-16 victory over Cleveland.

 

Life of the Party

As serious as Layne was on the field, his life away from the gridiron was filled with fun and frivolity.

Although he was married, Layne and his teammates were known to cut loose and stay up all hours of the night drinking and having a good time.

”When Bobby said, ‘Block,’ you blocked,” Lions safety Yale Lary said. ”And when Bobby said, ‘Drink,’ you drank.”

Layne was known to host a party every year for rookies that included copious amounts of alcohol.

”You can call it cornball,” he said, ”but football’s a team game and guys have to feel they belong.”

During one late-night excursion in Detroit, police arrested Layne for going the wrong way down a one-way street.

The arresting officer became angry when Layne kept poking him and raising a ruckus.

When asked about it later, Layne told the press that the officer simply didn’t understand him due to his Texas accent.

That prompted his teammates to have a little fun at his expense and put a sign in the locker room. ”Ah ain’t drunk,” it read, ”Ah’m from Texas.”

As if that weren’t enough, rumor has it that Layne had gotten a little tipsy the night before the 1953 championship game.

With the Lions down by seven in the closing minutes of the contest, Layne made a promise.

”Y’all block,” he said in his whisky voice, ”and ol’ Bobby’ll pass you right to the championship.”

Layne then promptly found receiver Jim Doran for the game-winning 33-yard touchdown pass.

 

Detroit Brings in Layne’s Successor

Detroit Lions helmet
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

 

The Lions continued to win in 1954 and were on the brink of a third straight championship.

Layne passed for more than 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns to guide the team to a 9-2-1 regular season.

Then, for the third year in a row, Detroit met Cleveland in the NFL Championship game.

The third time was the charm for the Browns as their defense hounded Layne into throwing six interceptions, leading to an easy 56-10 victory.

After the 1955 season (in which Layne led the NFL with a 53.0 completion percentage), his lifelong friend, Doak Walker, surprised everyone by retiring.

Walker was at the top of his game, but he had business interests back in Texas that he wanted to attend to.

Despite missing their top back, Detroit was in the midst of a nine-win season in 1956.

In the final regular season game against Chicago, Layne was de-cleated by Bears defender Ed Meadows.

The blow, which many considered dirty, knocked Layne out for the remainder of the year with an injury. This tanked the team’s playoff hopes.

In an effort to prevent that from happening again, Coach Parker brought in former Green Bay quarterback Tobin Rote before the 1957 season.

Rote was the league’s passing leader in 1956, and Parker believed it would be a good idea to have two quality quarterbacks, just in case.

 

The Lions Win a Championship Without Layne

The acquisition of Rote turned out to be fortunate for Detroit as the 1957 preseason became a soap opera.

During training camp, Parker suddenly decided to leave the team, and George Wilson took over.

After being introduced as coach, Wilson announced that he would rotate Layne and Rote each game.

Then, Layne got caught drinking while driving and was arrested two weeks before the season began.

The quarterback was embarrassed by his public shame and offered to retire, but the team declined.

Wilson stayed with his quarterback plan, which led to seven starts, 1,169 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and 12 picks for Layne.

Although rotating signal callers has rarely proven to be a sound strategy, the Lions were winning before Layne broke his ankle in a game against Cleveland in Week 11.

With Rote now the starter, Detroit won their final two games, beat San Francisco in the Conference playoff game, and then defeated the Browns, 59-14, in the NFL Championship game.

While Layne watched the contest from the sidelines, Rote passed for four touchdowns and ran for another.

There was no denying that the franchise was on the brink of a quarterback controversy.

 

Layne Is Traded to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Steelers helmet on the field
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

 

The 1958 season began the same way the 1957 season did, with Layne and Rote rotating each week.

Before Week 2 against the Packers, Wilson was not happy with either quarterback, especially after the team dropped a game against Baltimore in Week 1.

“… we have not had a solid quarterbacking job from them yet, but we know what Layne and Rote can do, it’s simply a matter of getting everything working together,” said Wilson.

Detroit tied the contest with Green Bay, and a few days later, Layne’s wife, Carol, flew into the city to visit her husband.

While the couple was still in the airport, a message for Layne came over the intercom.

He found the nearest phone only to hear Wilson’s voice on the other end.

To Layne’s great shock, Wilson informed him that Layne was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for quarterback Earl Morrall.

After eight seasons and three world titles in the Motor City, Layne was no longer a Lion.

The news sent shock waves across the league as well as in the Detroit locker room.

“My reaction, like everyone else, was ‘why?’” said then teammate Alex Karras. “No one could give us a real explanation, and that disturbed a lot of us. Once he was gone, the team just wasn’t what it used to be. It must have been something he must have done that wasn’t good for the NFL.”

Rumors abounded that the franchise traded Layne not only because he was a hard drinker, but because he was involved in organized gambling.

A renowned gambler by the name of Donald “Dice” Dawson told a reporter how he knew Layne was guilty of betting on games in which he played.

“I was involved with players in at least thirty-two NFL games that were dumped or where points were shaved.” Dawson told reporter Dan Moldea. Moldea then added: “Layne was thought to have shaved points or participated in the fixing of several NFL games according to several bookmakers and law enforcement officials.”

It was never proven whether Layne actually bet on games, and he was not charged.

“I know I’ve been accused of betting on games, especially when my team loses, but I take it with a grain of salt,” said Layne. “Losing gamblers grumble no matter what happens. First of all, I would have to be crazy to endanger my livelihood for a few thousand dollars… but I owe a lot to football and to jeopardize my reputation would be ridiculous. Even if I had been betting, it would have come out in the open long ago.”

 

“The Curse”

Layne’s departure from Detroit was not a popular one.

According to local legend, Layne angrily declared that the Lions wouldn’t win another championship for 50 years before leaving for the Steelers.

Although no members of the media actually heard Layne say this, the gossip continued for the next several decades.

Since 1957, the organization has not played for a championship or appeared in the Super Bowl.

Detroit came close in 1991 when the team won 12 games and advanced to the NFC Championship game against Washington.

The Redskins then extended the drought with a resounding 41-10 shellacking.

Years after the supposed utterance of the curse, Layne’s son, Alan, denied his father ever said those words.

In fact, Alan Layne doesn’t remember his father having any issues with the Detroit organization.

“No, there’s no sour grapes,” Alan Layne said in 2017. “He never said anything derogatory around me or my brother. It was just water under the bridge. He wasn’t like that, and he just went on.”

 

Layne Guides the Steelers

detailed view of a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

 

When Layne was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 1948, he didn’t want anything to do with the team and was traded.

This time, his former Lions coach, Buddy Parker, was leading the Steelers. Layne was eager to rejoin his friend.

He started the final ten games of the 1958 regular season and passed for more than 2,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Layne then threw for over 1,900 yards and an NFL-best 21 touchdowns in 1959, and his play in both years led to his final two Pro Bowl selections.

As much as he tried, Layne couldn’t get Pittsburgh to a championship game during his four-plus years with the club.

The best record during his tenure as a Steeler was nine wins in 1962.

Layne’s final year as a pro produced 1,686 yards, nine touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.

 

Layne Retires

After the 1962 season concluded, Layne decided to retire.

During his career, he passed for 26,768 yards, 196 touchdowns, and 243 interceptions.

Layne also ran for 2,451 rushing yards and 25 scores.

Bobby Layne was a three-time world champion, six-time All-Pro, and six-time Pro Bowler. He also led the NFL in passing yards twice, passing touchdowns once, completion percentage once, and was the league’s scoring leader in 1956.

The accolades continued to pile up after his retirement.

They included the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, a Pride of the Lions member, Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary and All-Time Teams, Layne’s number 22 retired by Detroit, Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team member, Steelers Hall of Honor, and Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 1967, voters inducted Layne into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Doak Walker paid his friend the ultimate compliment during the induction ceremonies.

”Bobby never lost a game,” said Walker. ”Time just ran out.”

Layne is also a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Longhorn Hall of Honor.

 

Legacy

Layne has long been considered one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and one of the pioneers of the pro passing game.

When he retired, Layne was at the top of the NFL record book for career attempts, completions, touchdowns, passing yards, and interceptions.

He was also known for his toughness, which included never playing a game with a face mask.

Sports Illustrated called Layne the “Toughest Quarterback Who Ever Lived” in a 1995 issue.

Of course, Layne downplayed the significance of not wearing a face mask.

“All that stuff about me being brave because I didn’t wear a face mask is a crock,” he said. “I tried a new face mask every day they brought one out. But they bothered my vision, even the one-bar types they had. Sure, I had my nose broken some, but it was nothing serious.”

Part of Layne’s enduring legacy also includes his hard drinking, although he stated that the stories of his alcohol use were overblown.

“I don’t think there’s any way possible I could have played for 15 years if I had done all the things I’m supposed to have done,” he said. “If you ever get your name in the paper with that kind of reputation, it’s going to continue. Other pro athletes did the same things I did. I was just too open with mine.”

The conflicting part of that narrative is Layne’s appearances in the news for drunk driving and DUI during his playing career.

There’s also his own quote from early in his time with Detroit.

”If I want a beer or two,” he said, ”I’m not going to sneak around some back-alley joint. I’m going to walk in the front door of the best place in town.”

 

Retirement and Death

Red roses on black granite tombstone

 

Only a year after retiring, Layne became the quarterbacks coach for the Steelers in 1963, a position he held through 1964.

In 1965, the St. Louis Cardinals hired Layne as the quarterbacks coach, and he remained there for one season.

Layne then became a scout for the Dallas Cowboys for the 1966 and 1967 seasons.

After leaving the Cowboys, he got into the business sector and could be seen at NFL events such as the Super Bowl.

In 1982, he was on hand to do the ceremonial coin toss at Super Bowl XVI where the San Francisco 49ers met the Cincinnati Bengals in the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

During the festivities, Layne told a reporter about how he envisioned dying one day.

“My only request,” he said, “is that I draw my last dollar and my last breath at precisely the same instant.”

On December 1, 1986, Layne passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 59.

At the time of his death, doctors attributed Layne’s health issues to his alcohol use. It was revealed the former quarterback had a chronic liver ailment.

Layne is survived by his wife, Carol, and their sons, Rob and Alan.

 

References

https://www.steelersuk.com/history/forties/1949%20bobby%20layne.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Layne

www.nytimes.com

https://www.cfbhall.com/about/blog/throwback-thursday-bobby-layne/

www.vintagedetroit.com

https://www.cottonbowl.com/sports/hof/roster/bobby-layne/174

https://texassports.com/honors/hall-of-honor/robert-lawrence-bobby-layne/690

https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1706

www.vintagedetroit.com

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=layne-001rob

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-02-sp-769-story.html

texashsfootball.com

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2017/09/06/detroit-lions-curse-of-bobby-layne-1957-championship/629831001/

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2652877-urban-legends-the-curse-of-bobby-layne

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaynBo00.htm

https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-layne/

About Ben Donahue

Over 25 years of experience in sports including coach, athletic director, game day operations, media relations, football operations, and scout.

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