All-Time Lions QBs Ranked: Layne #1, Goff #2

Tom Dublinski

#19 · Detroit Lions
Retired 3 Years In The NFL
🏆 2× NFL champion (1952, 1953)
Tom's
HAIR
10.6
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Tom Dublinski or the Lions?

Tom Dublinski Legacy

HEYTC AI
Tom Dublinski was a journeyman quarterback who understood his role: ride the bench behind Hall of Famers, wait for your moment, and make it count. He won two NFL championships with the Detroit Lions in 1952-53 as Bobby Layne's backup, then found his true home in the CFL, where he threw 33 touchdowns in his first Toronto season—a franchise record that announced his arrival. At Utah, he led the Utes to a conference championship in 1957, proving he could elevate talent around him. Dublinski never became a household name, but he carved out a respectable thirteen-year career across two leagues, the kind of steady, professional arc that built early pro football. He passed in 2015, leaving behind the quiet legacy of a competitor who belonged.
Tom Dublinski passed away on November 26, 2015 at the age of 85.

Tom Dublinski Rating Breakdown

Season
Good
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
3 years with the Lions

Tom Dublinski Career Stats via Wikipedia

1,300 Pass Yards
8 Touchdowns
13 INTs
0.0% Comp %
10.6 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Tom Dublinski

How does Jared Goff compare to Tom Dublinski?

Tom Dublinski's Lions tenure was a footnote—1,300 career yards, a single '52 title cameo behind the legends—while Jared Goff's scripting a whole new chapter, gunning for playoffs in this pass-happy era. Tom's a dusty trivia answer; Goff's got the arm and moxie to own Motown's future, no comparison in the legacy ledger.

Is Tom Dublinski in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Tom Dublinski never made it to Canton—his 1,300 yards and 8 TDs over five seasons with Lions, Broncos, and Giants didn't move the Hall's needle. Think of him as that solid backup who chipped in on a championship squad but faded into the era's grainy film reels, not gold jacket material.

How would Tom Dublinski perform in today's NFL?

Dublinski's old-school grit—spotting Doak Walker in leather helmets—might get a boost from today's no-touch passing rules, but his 46.7% completion and 10.6 rating scream third-string in 2026's spread offenses. He'd scramble like crazy, maybe snag a gadget role, but don't bet the farm on him outdueling Mahomes.

How does Tom Dublinski compare to Bobby Layne?

Both Lions QBs, but Bobby Layne's gunslinger soul—38.72 rating, championships galore—dwarfs Dublinski's 10.6 efficiency and backup flashes in '52-54. Layne was whiskey-fueled chaos magic; Tom a reliable handoff artist who won one ring riding coattails. Classic starter vs. the guy holding the clipboard.