Ex-Lions head coach Buddy Parker advances in Hall of Fame selection process

There are only two former Detroit Lions head coaches in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Dutch Clark and Joe Schmidt. However, both were enshrined for their play on the field more than their coaching prowess. That could soon change as the Lions may finally see a head coach enter the Hall of Fame for their coaching. On Tuesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame whittled their coaching nominees from 15 potential Hall of Famers to 12. Among those is Raymond "Buddy" Parker, who served as the head coach of the Lions from 1951 to 1956. Parker formally played fullback, linebacker, and defensive back and was a member of the Lions' first championship team in 1935. He played just two seasons for the Lions before being traded to the Chicago Cardinals. Parker played seven seasons for the Cardinals before retiring after the 1943 season. Parker quickly transitioned into coaching, becoming an assistant with the Cardinals before becoming their co-head coach in 1949. Parker abruptly resigned midseason and joined the Lions as a bac