We are ranking the top 10 All-Time Best NFL Defensive Players from Texas HS Football. The list is based only on the players’ NFL careers, not their high school careers.
Dick “Night Train” Lane is our #2 ranked player. His dominance as a defensive back was unmatched, and his physical style of play helped redefine the cornerback position. Despite the fact that the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award did not exist during his career, Lane likely would have won it at least twice, if not three or four times. His most legendary accomplishment remains the NFL record for most interceptions in a single season (14 in 1952), which he achieved in just 12 games—a record that still stands today, over 70 years later. Lane’s impact on the game and his ball-hawking ability make him one of the best defensive players of all time.
Early Life and High School Career
Dick Lane was born on April 16, 1928, in Austin, Texas. He had a tough upbringing, spending time in foster care and orphanages before eventually attending L.C. Anderson High School in Austin. A natural athlete, he played football but was not heavily recruited due to segregation and limited opportunities for Black athletes at the time. Lane’s football journey took an unconventional path, as he did not immediately go to college but instead enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he played football for military teams and developed into a standout athlete.
NFL Career
Unlike most all-time greats, Lane did not follow the traditional high school-to-college-to-NFL pipeline. After his military service, he showed up at the Los Angeles Rams’ training camp in 1952, carrying only a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and asking for a tryout. That decision changed the course of NFL history. The Rams gave him a shot, and he made the roster.
In his rookie season, Lane recorded 14 interceptions in just 12 games, setting the all-time single-season record that still stands today. That performance immediately established him as one of the most feared defensive backs in the league.
After two seasons with the Rams, Lane was traded to the Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), where he continued his dominance, earning three First-Team All-Pro selections. In 1960, he was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played until 1965, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest defenders in NFL history.
Lane finished his career with 68 interceptions, returning five for touchdowns. He was known for his devastating hits—his signature move, the “Night Train Necktie,” was so brutal that it helped lead to rule changes banning excessive head and neck tackles.
Legacy and Post-Football Career
Dick Lane was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974, cementing his place among the greatest to ever play the game. He was named to both the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
After football, Lane worked in community outreach and youth programs. He remained active in mentoring young athletes and was widely respected for his contributions beyond the field.
Awards and Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1974)
- NFL record – Most interceptions in a season (14 in 1952, in 12 games)
- 7× First-Team All-Pro (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962)
- 10× Pro Bowl selection (1954–1958, 1960–1963, 1965)
- NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- 68 career interceptions (4th most in NFL history at the time of his retirement)
Dick “Night Train” Lane wasn’t just one of the greatest defensive backs of all time—he was one of the greatest defensive players, period. His ability to dominate games with both his ball-hawking skills and his physicality set him apart. The fact that he still holds the single-season interception record, despite playing in an era with fewer games and fewer passing attempts, speaks to just how incredible he was.
If the Defensive Player of the Year award had existed in his prime, Lane would have won it multiple times. His combination of elite coverage, punishing hits, and historic stats make him the #2 greatest defensive player to ever come out of Texas high school football.
