Milt Plum was a quarterback at Penn State University who could pass a ball unlike any other, a skill that led to him being picked in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft in 1957 by the Cleveland Browns.

Although he was far from flashy, Plum would go on to become a reliable signal-caller in Detroit’s football scene during a pivotal transitional era for the Detroit Lions after being traded to them in 1962 – one that bridged the gap between the team’s championship pedigree of the 1950s and the struggles they’d go on to face in the late 1960s.

As a two-time leading league passer, Plum was also rewarded with a high completion percentage and excellent defense.

He brought the Lions stability as quarterback, something the franchise would need as it moved out of its 1950s glory years into a new decade.

In short, Plum brought a history of being accurate and reliable.

The mid-1960s Lions lacked the star power of earlier seasons, but Plum provided leadership and veteran experience.

He sometimes played in the backfield alongside Alex Karras and other times alongside Joe Schmidt on defense, helping to prop up a team that was always competitive…even when they weren’t necessarily championship caliber.

Plum left Detroit for the New York Giants and later the Los Angeles Rams before retiring in 1969.

In his thirteen years of professional football, he threw across more than 17,000 yards and landed 122 touchdowns – a record few of his colleagues ever matched.

Plum spent the majority of his sporting career in relative obscurity but was well respected in football.

His stint with the Browns and Lions placed him among the strongest, most reliable quarterbacks of his era, and though he was far from a superstar, his dedication went a long way in forming the backbone of all the teams he played for.

Milt Plum may not be as renowned as Johnny Unitas or Bart Starr, but anybody who really follows the game of football and knows the Detroit Lions knows better.

He was a steady hand for a franchise that needed exactly that.

For Detroit, Plum represents a time when grit, dependability, and quiet leadership were just as important as recognition and flash.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 20, 2025