#8 Alex Karras | NFL Films | Top 10 Players Not in the Hall of Fame

Detroit Lions defensive lineman, Alex Karras, comes in at number 8 on the countdown of the Top 10 Players Not in the Hall of Fame.
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[@lixer17]

Karras is in. 2020 Class. Long overdue, but well deserved

[@FuriousMan226]

He’s in the Hall of Fame now baby!

[@ccth22]

Why it took so long is ridiculous. Dominant lineman during his time...

[@peterdobush9042]

Finally finally finally congratulations to Alex Karras and his family well deserved.

[@BoilingDietCoke]

Ty.

[@jgrj52]

Not anymore! He's going in this year

[@jeromemurphy2572]

Alex Karras was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Jan. of 2020. So he is in and will be inducted. There was no doubt to me he belonged in the Hall of Fame and now he will be. Too bad it comes too late for Karras to enjoy. He passed away a few years ago. Too bad but glad this injustice has been rectified. Detroit Lions fan for life.

[@jefffawcett]

I urge everyone to read Mad Ducks and Bears, Plimptons follow up to Paper Lion. Absolutely hysterical and insightful, Karras was one of the funniest guys in sports history

[@wilt3051]

he's in now!!!

[@shaunalbert7681]

It’s amazing that years after this episode was made that Karras is now in the hall of fame (as of the day of this post)

[@jacksmith5692]

In his era if we discount Artie Donovan who was getting older, Karras was up there with Lilly, Olsen, and later Page in the NFL for DT's. Jerry Kramer always talked about being schooled early by Artie Donovan and then said Olsen and Karras were his toughest foes till the end when Page appeared.

[@dr.detroit1514]

I grew up in Detroit in the 60's. Alex was my favorite football player.

[@dennymcfastlane8530]

My Father took me to the Lindell AC for my 21st birthday beer. Low & behold, just a few stools down was Alex Karris. The owners knew my Dad, and when they made a BIG DEAL about me turning 21, Alex must have overheard and walked over to congratulate me and twist my Fathers arm to buy my 1st beer. A year later, i caddied for Karris & Lem Barney at Chandler Park Golf Course. Alex remembered me, and it was a lot of yuks with those two. They tipped really Good also. Also, loads of fond memories when the Lions shared & played at the Old Tiger Stadium. *R.i.P. Alex Karris.

[@chriskies5016]

I bought my first legal beer Lindell's. I had to keep it on the down-low as it was not the first beer I bought there. Best Sports bar ever.

[@orangefox1231]

Hello HOF 2020!!!!

[@JediMasterGeoff]

"Mongo only pawn in game of life."

[@babywah3290]

“Think it have something to do with choo choo.”

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

I just realized that's Mongo from Blazing Saddles.

[@mikecapizzi5062]

Please put him in Hall of fame 🦁

[@mrlaw711]

Karras was a terrific football player, and a talented man of humor. I'm sure his fans and family are more saddened that he's not enshrined in the Hall of Fame than he was. With his confidence and outlook - I doubt being excluded made any difference to Alex. I didn't play in the NFL. I did run in the Olympic Trials, and was a good athlete in high school and college - most of all, I am a life long Chicago Bears fan (like 49ers and Raider, too since I lived in SF Bay Area the majority of my adult life) and thus I saw a lot of Alex Karras as a player. He was damn good. Life isn't always fair, and smart people know that. The NFL was better because of men like Karras. His legacy was outstanding, and his humor and perspective after he was finished playing also helped elevate the public's perception of the NFL.

[@jimt4354]

Lions have a great history and Karras was a big part of it. It is humorous to read about the frustration Jerry Kramer had with Karras. He referred to Karras as a Hippopotamus, lol.Two books I read as a kid playing line in school; Even Big Guys Cry by Alex Karras and Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer.

[@65TossTrap]

Better book is Mad Ducks and Bears.

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Jim T 👍great books.🏈

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

65 TossPowerTrap Thanks. I will look for that one.🏈

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Lions at one time had a great history, but that was before Alex Karras. They were defending NFL Champions in 1958 when he arrived. They weren't great by any means after he joined them, one playoff game in 1970, his last season. All of which is no fault of him; the Ford family sucks.

[@dustylover100]

I have both books. I literally read the cover off of Karras' book. I have worn the cover of Instant Replay.

[@epeon7]

Sayers calling Kara a dirty player is a bit amusing that Butkus played on the same team and he was OK for the HOF.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Well he never said anything about Butkus one way or another.

[@JustWinBabee]

He was just glad Butkus was on his team.

[@lionelsheja6381]

Well Butkus also is the best MLB of all time arguably

[@jennifersman7990]

That’s because Sayers never played AGAINST Butkus

[@dreiss]

Well, this video was made a lie today. Karras was elected to the Hall of Fame earlier today.

[@babyfir77]

Karras coined the phrase University of Mars on a video shot of steam rising fron Raiders' Otis Sistrunk's bald head, MNF! Thought that scene would be in this video.

[@JustWinBabee]

Me too. That deserved a mention.

[@mbproductions4064]

Detroit vs everbody

[@mrlaw711]

I forgot to acknowledge that Karras made it to the Hall of Fame. A good decision for all.

[@ericscottstevens]

Green Bay great Jerry Kramer called Karras the best he ever played against..........and yes Hornung made the HOF..... even with "gambling"

[@greensmithfootball10]

Eric Stevens I think Jerry Kramer said the best defensive tackle he played against was Merlin Olson

[@xaviervega468]

@Midnight Owl Hornung also kissed a lot of media ass, while Karras refused to kiss ass for anyone.

[@orangefox1231]

HE MADE IT!!!

[@ericscottstevens]

@@greensmithfootball10 Read Kramers book, complete with Alex Karras photos.

[@greensmithfootball10]

@@ericscottstevens watch Jerry Kramer talk about Merlin Olson as a top 100 player

[@65TossTrap]

The Hall of Fame selection committee doesn’t believe football occured pre-Joe Montana. They are incredibley stupid. They are prejudiced against Greeks. They hate the fact that Alex talked trash to Lombardi and backed it up. The only thing that stopped Detroit from being a championship team during the sixties was lack of top quarterbacking. Alex deserves to be in the HOF!!!

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

65 TossPowerTrap I certainly agree with a lot of what you're saying.🏈

[@danman1809]

I need a good gyro.

[@danman1809]

... and some baklava.

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

Plus you've got a bunch of talking heads on this video who are still sore from the whipping Karras put on their teams. Fact is, an interior defensive lineman from that era isn't going to have a lot of stats to impress some 21st century pencil neck.

[@SphincterOfDoom]

Sayers: "Alex was a dirty player" So about Butkus...

[@derektorres9275]

Hypocrite Sayers is for saying Karras was dirty even though Butkis was worse

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@derektorres9275 well in his defense he never said Butkus wasn't.

[@williamhughey6875]

ALEX KARRAS WAS ONE OF BEST DLINEMEN OF ALL TIME AND SHOULD BE IN THE NFL HOF!!!!!!

[@Matthew-qy7op]

I don't understand HOF snubs. If he belongs, he belongs

[@geeskin5750]

amen

[@steveswangler6373]

unfortunately, sports writers, some of the most arrogant people in the world, get to vote for the halls of fame. that is an out and out joke. Ted Williams won two triple crowns and neither season won MVP, because a sportswriter held an immature grudge and didn't take his responsibility to the game seriously. deion sanders was afraid of contact and made the hall as a defensive player, warren sapp was a weak link on tampa and sucked at Oakland and made the hall? (yes he was a weak link in tampa, teams could run right up the middle on an otherwise staunch tampa D.

[@SolidPain6624]

Steve Swangler you’re an idiot

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Steve Swangler I agree with Steve. There are MANY players from the past with the stats & numbers that should have been inducted into the HOF years ago, but sportswriters are basically just like MSM journalists, they are elitist.🏈

[@dantheman5745]

@@steveswangler6373 Absolutely spot-on, Steve.

[@orangefox1231]

He’s in! :)

[@chrisosieczanek8281]

A true stud . Had he played on any team but Detroit , he would have made the HOF sooner .

[@sammyvh11]

He's in Mongo is in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mortensen1961]

No longer pawn in game of life. . . .

[@edwardyoung522]

RIP, Alex. Yeah, you should be in the HOF.

[@FuriousMan226]

Edward Young He is now!

[@sammyvh11]

Congrats to Karas he was perhaps the quickest man off the ball ever as a DT. Now lets get Mike Mad Dog Curtis in. The league seems to wait on these type players until they die. Its like a punishment. Screw the NFL.

[@decadantdog4444]

Karras got Pete Rosed!

[@aregimechangeisimminent5781]

Decadant Dog Perfect Description

[@jamesanthony5681]

Alex Karras was great on Monday Night Football. And funny. Dallas was playing (1974), and the camera panned over to the sidelines and to the Cowboy cheerleaders. Alex: "Look at them, Frank (Gifford). Remember when we played the cheerleaders were 65 years old or something like that?" Howard Cosell laughing in the background. An excellent book was George Plimpton's, *Mad Ducks and Bears* . It gave you a great insight of NFL linemen, as told by Alex Karras (Mad Duck) and former teammate John Gordy (Bear). A terrific and entertaining read.

[@dalegriffin6768]

My dad told me he watched alot football and he said Alex was the meanest, toughest player he'd ever seen

[@michaelhegyan7464]

Having grown up in Bloomfield Hills, mi ( Metro Detroit) Karri's" son went to my HS, long with John Gordy's son, John who personally knew, graduated in my class

[@mikebradshaw6484]

And? Is there a point to this story or are you just name dropping?

[@michaelhegyan7464]

@@mikebradshaw6484 so... what's it to you, bud..?

[@justinmix143]

Took WAAAAAAAY too long. Finally there 🦁

[@notthatguypal14]

I’m watching Monday night football and they mentioned this guy

[@karlcooper7016]

Fun fact: Alex Karras was nearsighted he must have worn contact lenses for much of his life because I saw one shot of him In the locker room wearing some pretty thick glasses.

[@beerborn]

Roman Gabriel deserves to be in the HOF.

[@kaivrock]

He was only 6'1 and around 245 which was small even back then but he was a truck. He had the fierceness of Butkus and Nitchski and was quick. Today, a bigger Karras would be a Lawrence Taylor or a Suh.

[@greekgod300george6]

GREEK BEAST 💪🏼🇬🇷🇨🇾⚡️

[@guillermomartinez2339]

He's from my hometown Gary Indiana...His brother was in the Bears championship team in 63

[@JustWinBabee]

His oldest brother Lou played for the Redskins.

[@guillermomartinez2339]

Ted Sr played for Bears 63' ....Ted Jr Redskins ...Ted III for Patriots now Miami

[@JustWinBabee]

Ted played right guard on offense and Alex played left tackle on defense, so for a good chunk of the sixties, they went directly against each other twice each season. Alex once related a story about a game where the guy opposite of him was getting under his skin. He was ready to fight the guy. Alex's eyesight was so bad that it was late in the third quarter when he realized the guy he wanted to pound was his own brother.

[@guillermomartinez2339]

@@JustWinBabee how did you become a fan

[@JustWinBabee]

@@guillermomartinez2339 - Grew up in Detroit as a fan of Detroit professional sports teams.

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Those of us that actually watched him play certainly remember him, and how dominating he was. He... and many others, are being wronged. Come on NFL HOF & your millennial elitist writers, do the right thing and put the very deserving players in. God bless our NFL heroes from a bygone era. R.I.P. Alex Karras🏈

[@65TossTrap]

The sportswriters and others who ignore Alex need to look at some game tape. Alex dominated the position.

[@rayeghailukvlogs7007]

Hi! Nice one.

[@bishlap]

Jerry Kramer said he was his toughest opponent to block bc of his super quickness.

[@williamhelms9942]

He was George Zaharias in Babe too!

[@lurking0death]

Karras was a TREMENDOUS defensive tackle. Just ask the Lombardi era Packers.

[@bigblue9996]

Is it Alex Karras in Webster?

[@kingbee1500]

Karras, Winston Hill, Gino Cappelletti, Lionel Taylor...these and SO MANY other deserving HOF-level players snubbed!

[@douglaspatrick868]

King Bee Sam Mills is the one that gets me the most, literally grew up watching him through the nineties and was blown away by how great a tackler and run stopper he was, rock solid pass coverage LB, how great he was at reading offenses and blowing up plays, and the countless times he would absolutely stonewall a much larger ball carrier at the goal line. A 5'9" 215ish lb man...one of the best inside linebackers ever, and damn could he hit, small guy but he just hammered guys and created lots of turnovers and tackles for loss. Then he died so young after a cancer battle, one of the moments as a sports fan that absolutely broke my heart. Jessie Tuggle is another guy from that era that belongs in too! Both those guys put up great numbers, more often than not changed the games they played in, and were both five time pro bowlers and perennially in the all pro discussion at Inside/Middle linebacker while being noticeably under the 6'2"+ 245lb+ frame most teams look for in prospects at the position.

[@FuriousMan226]

King Bee Karras and Winston got revealed

[@decadantdog4444]

So what was "dirty" about the way he played?

[@rb0106]

Nothing....he was just quicker and stronger and read the plays better...

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Decadant Dog The Bears & Lions obviously were divisional rival, and Karras probably rung Sayers (when he could catch him) bell more than once, so hence the hard feelings. BOTH players were awesome.🏈

[@danman1809]

Alex Karras played 12 years in NFL. Was on the number 1 rush defense in NFL 5 times. He was a tackle with 95 career sacks in a time when QBs threw 20-25 times a game. Gale Sayers played with the dirtiest player Butkus, and played effectively in NFL for 6 years.

[@guitar1067]

Karras should be in the Hall. Hornung is in and he gambled. His opponents know he was an HOFer. Karras was tough as nails and he hated and mocked QBs but he said he could never intimidate the great Sonny Jurgensen.

[@tubewatcher38]

Alex Karrras was one of the very best defensive linemen of his era. The gambling is relevant, but to say he wasn't a good enough player is silly. & speaking of Greek DL's, Fred Smerlas should be in the HoF too, for sure. One of the best DL's of his era too.

[@tanakasigauke5596]

Fairs

[@epeon7]

Detroit didn't win anything while he was there and it is not the communication meca of the country. But, based on his real world performance? Oh, trust me, Karras was great. He was squat, powerful. You could not get under him and he had so much power that he leveraged by any offensive lineman.

[@douglaspatrick868]

David Norris The Lions were an absolute defensive force in the Fifties and Sixties, so many great characters and talents, they deserve to be discussed and remembered more than they are!

[@greensmithfootball10]

David Norris the lions won a couple championships in the fifties but that's the pre superbowl era so nobody counts those as being relevant

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@greensmithfootball10 they won in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Got to the NFL Championship Game in 1954.

[@greensmithfootball10]

@@dallasbrubaker6054 you're absolutely right

[@frostedashes451]

I know Mr Karras is smiling down from somewhere.

[@dirtydan1697]

Wasn't butkus a dirty football player?

[@timihry7057]

No great on a losing team

[@JustWinBabee]

No one finished plays like Butkus. No one.

[@mikebradshaw6484]

No. He was THE dirtiest Football player.

[@AndrewWarrenPatriotsfan]

Alex Karras is going to the Hall of Fame this year when this pandemic is over

[@joeblow7407]

Alex was a great player. Unfortunately the Lions were not that good in the 60"s, although they had some fine players....Linebackers Wayne Walker and Mike Lucci........Corner back Lem Barney who is in the Hall. Maybe the best punt returner ever. And don't forget the superb tight end Charlie Sanders.......Altie Taylor and Mel Farr were excellent runners. Alex was quick off the ball!.......

[@marknicholas4647]

"Even Big Guys Cry"

[@Braglemaster123]

RIP

[@Ripr620]

From the region Aka Gary Ind

[@JStarStar00]

YOU CAN'T PARK THAT ANIMAL THERE!

[@Busy3x]

I see they have always claimed detroits best defensive lineman as " dirty" nothing new

[@melbias5046]

but warren sapp made the hall incredible!

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

mel bias sapp dominated

[@melbias5046]

yeah. and knew where the cameras were and plenty people dominated and he was terrible with the raiders he was voted in before strahan that tell you something.

[@melbias5046]

yeah, they both were on the ballot at the same time and they picked him over strahan.

[@xaviervega468]

Alejandro Sanchez So did Alex Karras

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

Xavier Vega Karras definitely was a dominator.🏈

[@Sldumas1983]

Come on gale now back in your days football was very dangerously played the man has 95 or 97 sacks in 12 yrs I think that that’s a HOF run right there specially at that time. He was a very great lineman don’t care what nobody say

[@deckerrm]

Gale Sayers says "no"...yet Sayers only had 4 full seasons and lead the league in rushing twice. What a joke.....got it.

[@marcoslaureano5562]

It's a shame most of my generation only knew him as Webster's dad on TV

[@Tom-zv2le]

Bro lol that’s my Aunty’s dad Katie Karras

[@jeromemurphy2572]

He was not a border-line candidate as some idiot stated in this clip. He made Jerry Kramer look like a fool. Jerry is also a Hall of Famer. And Once and for all Karras is in the Hall of Fame. So you can get rid of this entire clip.

[@bryancoats5328]

If you want to look at dirty players or cheaters, look at the players who used steroids or PEDs during these eras who are now in the HOF.

[@karlcooper7016]

Alex 'carrot' head hahahahahahahahaha.

[@Mrx-ux4nu]

I lose a bit of respect for Gale Sayers griping that Karras was a dirty ball player on here.

[@yeildo1492]

In comparing Karras to Hornung, is this guy really suggesting that they were equal players and the ONLY difference was Hornung's contrition? Stupid argument. Hornung led the NFL 3 straight years in scoring. In 1960, Hornung scored 176 points. In 12 games.

[@sammyvh11]

Karas and Mike Curtis should be in . Maybe this bonus year will do it? But the league and the NFLPA hated both these guys they where mavericks the veterans committee is x players. I saw both of them play for many years and Im sorry Gayle Sayers your wrong on Alex.

[@ymousanon4615]

RIP Alex . You were a lucky ugly pug to have such a lovely, loving beautiful wife Susan Clark . He and his wife Clark , Played fictional husband and wife in tv series Webster . 1:36 of this video . Susan Clark was married to Alex 1980-2012 to his death . She is still alive thank god .

[@JustWinBabee]

They met while filming the movie "Babe (1975). Susan played the title role of Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias and Karras played her husband, professional wrestler George Zaharias.

[@chriskies5016]

@@JustWinBabee Dont forget that they were also in "Porky's" together

[@karlcooper7016]

He's not in the Hall of fame for 2reasons 1 is the gambling but 2 he was a Lion.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Alex was outspoken as well, which didn't help his case. He called Pete Rozelle, 'A buzzard', in a 1968 sports magazine interview.

[@AlexSGabor]

#trillionairesfortrudeau #trillionairesfortrump #HappyBirthday #ChristianAlexanderGabor! #yah #alexkarras

[@johnpike7141]

2:19 lol it’s Peyton....

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Paul Hornung looks nothing like Peyton Manning.

[@LindaMerchant-dw1sw]

One of oldest NFL teams Detroit lions

[@karlcooper7016]

Well if he went in I guess there is still hope for Joe Jacoby he should have been in on the first ballot what a joke.

[@AlexSGabor]

#yah #trillionairesfortrudeau #trillionairesfortrump #HappyBirthday #ChristianAlexanderGabor!

[@mickys411]

They forgot to mention Mongo

[@thomasromanofski16]

Sad

[@stardaddyo9]

karras flashed some big plays, no doubt. But there were just too many games were he disappeared against some very average o-lines

[@steveswangler6373]

stardaddyo9 please give some examples

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Mongo only pawn in game of life

[@borisvandruff7532]

Mongo in Hall of Fame!

[@noahraymond244]

Gale Sayers shouldn't be in the Hall of fame either dude barely played only 5 1/2 years most overrated players in there.

[@theprofessor8589]

Dude, you have to be super-ignorant to even suggest that Gale Sayers shouldn't be in the HOF?? I don't care if he played just one dam year, his IMPACT is greater than his tenure. Gaylord Perry played 100 years in baseball and CHEATED, so what does longevity mean??

[@melbias5046]

what are you 20?

[@theprofessor8589]

Sorry about that. I didn't read it right. Didn't mean any harm, thought you were referring to me.

[@dangelo1369]

the professor I'm a long time Bears fan, and you CAN make that argument. Sayers, through injury, played only 68 games-never a full season. Meanwhile Karras is 2nd on the Lions in games played as well as part of the All Decade Team and 5 time All Pro. The PFHoF has a number of glaring omissions besides Karras: Jerry Kramer and Jim Marshall to name two.

[@dimercenary3090]

Noah R Sayers dominated during the time he was in the league, but injuries specifically to his knees ended his career prematurely.

[@nettraveller81]

Is it Alex Karras in Webster?