DETROIT -- Robert Porcher, the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end who played 12 years in Detroit, will be the next franchise icon to join the Pride of the Lions.
Porcher‘s induction ceremony is set to take place in the Week 2 home opener against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. The Lions made the announcement official during their broadcast of the preseason finale against the Houston Texans.
“We are thrilled to cement Robert Porcher’s legacy as one of the all-time Lions greats,” team president Rod Wood said. “As someone who spent his entire 12-year career in Detroit and holds our franchise record for career sacks, he is incredibly deserving of this honor. He was a model of stability and tenacity as a player and will always be someone our fans and even current players can look up to.
“We look forward to welcoming Robert back to Ford Field for what will be an extra special celebration when we take on the Chicago Bears for our home opener.”
He played for the Lions from 1992 to 2003, with his 95.5 sacks trailing only Alex Karras (100) on the franchise all-time leaderboard, per Pro Football Reference. When Porcher retired, he sat atop the leaderboard, as sacks were not a counting stat when Karras played, with research giving him 100.
Porcher was a first-round pick in 1992 out of South Carolina State. His best stretch of play came between 1996 and 2001, when he had five seasons with double-digit sacks, totaling 68 quarterback takedowns and a ridiculous 13 forced fumbles in those five years. The defensive end formed a destructive duo through the 1990s with fellow defensive lineman Luther Elliss from 1995 to 2003.
He played in five playoff games during his time in Detroit. The Lions lost all five of those games, with him notching 1.5 sacks and recovering one fumble.
Porcher was spotted at the team’s joint practice against the Houston Texans on Thursday in Allen Park. He spoke with general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, and even had a moment with current star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Porcher joins several of his former Lions teammates, including running back Barry Sanders, kicker Jason Hanson, receiver Herman Moore, linebacker Chris Spielman and offensive tackle Lomas Brown in the Pride of the Lions.
Johnson, the Hall of Fame receiver, was inducted last year, and Brown was the most recent honoree before him in 2023. The Pride of the Lions started in 2009, when the franchise opened with 12 inductees from Ford Field.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.