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Free Press editors Jeff Seidel and Dave Birkett analyze the collapse of the Lions against the Vikings in Minneapolis and wonder why their team fell on November 4, 2018.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

Wally Triplett, halfback, Detroit Lions is photographed in 1950. (Photo: Free Press File Photo)

Wally Triplett, the former Detroit half-lions who was the first African-American player in the NFL to play a regular season game, died Thursday, according to a Lions press release. He was 92 years old.

"As the first African-American to be selected and play in the National Football League, Wally is one of the true pioneers in the history of American sport," Lions said in the statement. "He resides among the great men who have helped to reshape the game in the face of the challenges of segregation and discrimination.

His contributions date back to the time when he was at Penn State as the first African-American winner of the Nittany Lions' letters, as evidenced by his appearance in the first integrated Cotton Bowl. Wally also went beyond the limits of color, having served in the US Army during the Korean War.

"We reflect with great affection on his great accomplishments and extend our sincere condolences to the Triplett family."

More: 1957 Detroit Lions: Relive the Biggest Teams in the History of the Franchise

Triplett played for the Lions in 1949 and 1950 after being selected in the 19th lap of the NFL draft in 1949; He was the third black player retained in this project but the first in the group to play in a regular season game.

During his rookie season, he set the franchise record at the time with an 80-yard touchdown race at Green Bay.

His most notable match was against L.A. Rams in 1950, when he made four punt shots for a total of 294 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown. He also had 74, 81 and 42 yard returns. His total rushing yards for a game was an NFL record for 44 seasons before being beaten in 1994, according to Thursday's publication, and he remains the third best in league history.

Triplett's career in the Lions ended two weeks later when he enlisted in the 594th US Army Battalion. He served for two years during the Korean War and ended his career with the Cardinals of Chicago in 1952-53.

Triplett, a native of La Mott, Pennsylvania, was a three-year-old Penn State winner, according to the release, and he was the first African-American player to play for the Nittany Lions.

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