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

George Izo

Retired 3 Years In The NFL
George's
HAIR
9.7
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about George Izo or the Lions?

George Izo Legacy

HEYTC AI
George Izo, the gunslinging Notre Dame quarterback whose old man had slung passes for Knute Rockne himself, burst onto the scene as a sophomore starter in '57, dazzling with an outstanding '58 junior year that had him pegged as the Heisman front-runner. Injuries tested his grit in '59, but he roared back to gut-punch Iowa in a 20-19 thriller and smash USC. Snagged as the Cardinals' top pick in '60—and the Titans' too—he carried that Irish fire into pro huddles, a chip on his shoulder from Barberton, Ohio. George Izo passed away in 2022 at 84, leaving a legacy of pure quarterback bloodlines.
George Izo passed away on June 10, 2022 at the age of 84.

George Izo Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
1 year with the Lions

George Izo Career Stats via Wikipedia

1,791 Pass Yards
12 Touchdowns
0 INTs
0.0% Comp %
9.7 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About George Izo

How does Jared Goff compare to George Izo?

George Izo's Lions stint was a forgettable cameo—357 yards backing up Milt Plum in '65, while Jared Goff's stacking 20,000-plus yards and a 47-31 record through 2025, turning Detroit into contenders. Izo's a dusty footnote; Goff's scripting playoff lore that could echo Stafford's grit. Night and day, like comparing a pop gun to a howitzer.

Is George Izo in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, George Izo never sniffed Canton—no bust, no gold jacket, just a journeyman QB who threw 1,791 yards and 12 TDs across six seasons. Hall's for immortals like Layne; Izo's the guy who warmed benches for Plum and others, fading into Lions trivia without a plaque.

How would George Izo perform in today's NFL?

Izo's arm might get a boost from no-touch passing rules and spread offenses, turning his 40.7% completion into something watchable with better protection. But his 7.32 career rating screams mobility issues in a read-option world—he'd be a camp arm at best, not starting over Goff's precision.

How does George Izo compare to Bobby Layne?

Bobby Layne owned the Lions with a 53-29-2 record and 38.72 rating, slinging it old-school through blizzards; Izo's 32.9 rating over six starts was grim, backing up in a 6-win '65 squad before getting cut. Layne was the gunslinger heart; Izo, a clipboard holder in the shadow.