Sports
Billy Sims
born 1955 · American football running back
Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick of 1980 who revived the Lions in the Pontiac Silverdome before a knee injury ended his career in 1984.
- Born
St. Louis, Missouri
age 71- Birth name
- Billy Ray Sims
- Detroit years
- 1980–1984
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
The Lions made Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, the first overall pick of the 1980 draft, and he transformed the team almost overnight. A powerful, elusive runner famous for hurdling tacklers, he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1980 and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, filling the Pontiac Silverdome with fans who had little to cheer about in the 1970s. He led Detroit to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983, its first postseason appearances in more than a decade. In 1983, in a contract dispute, he secretly signed with the Houston Gamblers of the rival USFL, and a court fight followed before he stayed in Detroit. On October 21, 1984, a severe knee injury in Minnesota ended his career at 29. He left as the Lions' career rushing leader, and in 2004 the club retired No. 20 in honor of Sims, Lem Barney and Barry Sanders.
Highlights
- First overall pick of the 1980 NFL draft
- 1980 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Pro Bowl in 1980, 1981 and 1982
- Led the Lions to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983
- No. 20 retired in 2004, shared with Barney and Sanders
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1980–1984
Pontiac Silverdome
Demolished · 1975–2013
The Lions' domed home during his career; closed in 2013 and demolished in 2017–2018.