By Darin 
William Roy “Link” Lyman was a giant in the early days of professional football, both in stature (6’2″, 233 lbs) and influence. A cornerstone of four NFL Championship teams across three different franchises, Lyman wasn’t just a physically imposing tackle; he was a tactical innovator. He is credited with pioneering the technique of shifting the defensive line, a foundational move that changed defensive strategy forever. Discover the career of this early gridiron star, whose legacy of relentless winning earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Football Bio
November 30, 1898 – Table Rock, Nebraska – William Roy” Link” Lyman, the tackle from Nebraska, came into this world. Link was a large player in the early 20’s as he stood 6’-2″ high and weighed in at 233 pounds. Lyman was a member of three straight NFL Championship teams: the 1922 & 23 Canton Bulldogs, and the 1924 Cleveland Bulldogs.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame then states that in 1925, he joined the Chicago Bears’ barnstorming tour, which featured Red Grange. He stayed with the Bears the balance of his career and even won another NFL Championship with them in 1933. Lyman made shifting the D-lineman around a normal standard when others saw the success of the maneuver.
All in all, in Link’s 16 years of combined college and pro careers, he only went through one losing season. Make sure you read the football history headlines above to learn about Lyman and the Bulldogs’ 1924 Championship, which is featured. Link Lyman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.
Conclusion
Link Lyman’s career spanned a remarkable 16 years, during which he achieved the astonishing feat of experiencing only one losing season, a testament to his consistent dominance. He won titles with the Canton Bulldogs (1922-23), Cleveland Bulldogs (1924), and the Chicago Bears (1933), proving his value across the evolving landscape of the early NFL. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964, Lyman is remembered not just as a great player, but as an intellectual pioneer whose introduction of the shifting defensive tackle remains one of the most significant early innovations in football strategy.
Football Accolades and Accomplishments
- Birth Date: November 30, 1898.
- NFL Championships: 4 (1922, 1923 Canton Bulldogs; 1924 Cleveland Bulldogs; 1933 Chicago Bears).
- Career Note: Went through only one losing season in 16 combined college and professional years.
- Innovation: Pioneered the tactical shifting of the defensive line.
- Teams: Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Bulldogs, Chicago Bears.
- Hall of Fame: Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1964).
Thanks to PFRA.org and Pro-Football-Reference.com