The USFL has honored players who earned all-league honors in the second season of the football league’s return to action. Some of the top USFL honorees have ties with the Detroit Lions.
Leading off the list of former Lions who made the All-USFL team, as named in a press release from President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston, is defensive tackle John Atkins. The Memphis Showboats nose tackle played two seasons (2018-2019) with the Lions, starting six games in that time and logging 22 total tackles for Detroit. He opted out of the 2020 season.
Atkins’ college teammate at Georgia, DT Toby Johnson, ended the 2017 NFL season on Detroit’s practice squad. He had a chance to make the squad in 2018 but suffered an injury and was released off the Lions’ injured reserve during the roster cutdowns. Johnson had an outstanding season for the New Jersey Generals, making All-USFL for the second straight year.
Pittsburgh Maulers cornerback Mark Gilbert led the league with four interceptions. Gilbert played eight games for the Lions in 2021 and was with Detroit through the 2022 preseason as well.
Offensive tackle Jarron Jones from the Showboats earned All-USFL for the second time. He was on the Lions practice squad back in 2018, one of nine NFL teams he was signed to but never played for in a regular season game.
Two former Lions running backs made the list. Mark Thompson of the Houston Gamblers, spent the 2019 offseason and preseason with the Lions. He didn’t make the final roster that year. Wes Hills did, however. Hills, now with the New Orleans Breakers, had 10 carries for 21 yards and scored two TDs in his one career NFL game, the Lions’ Week 15 loss to the Buccaneers back in 2019.
