Marty Lyons

Bio

Marty Lyons learned many lessons from Coach Bear Bryant during his years at Alabama. “So here was a coach who was really giving you the core values that would be instrumental in formulating you as a person, not as a football player,” explains Lyons of the lessons that Coach Bryant taught him at Alabama. Under Bryant, Marty Lyons became one of the most accomplished defenders in Alabama’s history. His career stats of 202 tackles, and 20 sacks led to many honors and awards, including consensus All-America, Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and being named a member of the Crimson Tide’s All-Centennial Team, Southeastern Conference’s All-1970s Team, and winning a national championship with the Crimson Tide in 1978. That national championship was clinched due to “The Goal Line Stand” in the 1979 Sugar Bowl in which Lyons was instrumental. Marty was a member of four bowl winning squads and three SEC title teams. He was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and spent his entire career in New York appearing in 147 games over 11 seasons. He was selected to two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1984. He established the Marty Lyons Foundation, which aims to fulfill wishes of terminally ill children. Lyons is a member of seven halls of fame in Alabama, Florida, Maryland and New York.

Career Highlights

• 1978 All-Conference
• 1978 Consensus All-America