View source for Yale Lary

{{Short description|American football player, businessman, and politician (1930–2017)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Yale Lary
| image       = Yale Lary - 1952 Bowman Large.jpg
| caption     = Lary on a 1952 Bowman football card
| number      = 28
| position    = [[Safety (gridiron football position)|Safety]] <br> [[Punter (gridiron football)|Punter]] <br> [[Return specialist]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1930|11|24}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Worth, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2017|05|11|1930|11|24}}
| death_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lb   = 185
| high_school = [[North Side High School (Fort Worth, Texas)|North Side]] {{nowrap|(Fort Worth, Texas)}}
| college     = [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]]
| draftyear   = 1952
| draftround  = 3
| draftpick   = 34
| pastteams   =
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1952|1953}}, {{NFL Year|1956|1964}})
| highlights  =
* 3× [[List of NFL champions (1920-1969)|NFL champion]] ([[1952 NFL Championship Game|1952]], [[1953 NFL Championship Game|1953]], [[1957 NFL Championship Game|1957]]) 
* 3× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1956 All-Pro Team|1956]], [[1958 All-Pro Team|1958]], [[1962 All-Pro Team|1962]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1957 All-Pro Team|1957]], [[1959 All-Pro Team|1959]])
* 9× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1954 Pro Bowl|1953]], [[1957 Pro Bowl|1956]]–[[1963 Pro Bowl|1962]], [[1965 Pro Bowl|1964]])
* [[NFL 1950s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Pride of the Lions]]
* [[Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Detroit Lions#Lions All-Time Team|Detroit Lions All-Time Team]]
* First-team All-[[Southwest Conference|SWC]] ([[1951 All-Southwest Conference football team|1951]])
| statlabel1  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1  = 50
| statlabel2  = Interception yards
| statvalue2  = 787
| statlabel3  = [[Punt (gridiron football)|Punt]]s
| statvalue3  = 503
| statlabel4  = Punting yards
| statvalue4  = 22,279
| pfr         = LaryYa00
| HOF         = yale-lary 
}}

'''Robert Yale Lary Sr.''' (November 24, 1930 – May 11, 2017) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player, businessman, and politician. He played for 11 seasons as a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]], [[Punter (gridiron football)|punter]] and [[return specialist]] for the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1979 and was also selected for the [[NFL 1950s All-Decade Team]].

A native of [[Fort Worth, Texas]], Lary played [[college football]] for the [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M Aggies]] from 1949 to 1951 and was selected as a first-team [[defensive back]] on the [[1951 All-Southwest Conference football team]]. He also played [[baseball]] at Texas A&M, led his team to the [[1951 College World Series]], and set a [[Southwest Conference]] record for [[Double (baseball)|doubles]]. He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame, the [[Texas Sports Hall of Fame]], and the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]].

Lary played in the NFL with the Lions from 1952 to 1953 and from 1956 to 1964, missing the 1954 and 1955 seasons due to military service as an Army second lieutenant in Korea.  He appeared in nine [[Pro Bowl]] games, and was a first-team All-NFL player five times.  He led the NFL in punting three times, and at the time of his retirement in 1964, his 44.3-yard punting average ranked second in NFL history, trailing only [[Sammy Baugh]]. He also totaled 50 NFL [[interception]]s for 787 return yards, both of which ranked fifth in NFL history at the time of his retirement.

==Early life==
Lary was born in [[Fort Worth, Texas]], in 1930.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Yale Lary|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaryYa00.htm}}</ref>  He attended [[North Side High School (Fort Worth, Texas)|North Side High School]] in Fort Worth, where he was a multi-sport athlete, receiving three letters each in football and [[baseball]], two in [[track and field]], and one in [[basketball]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Yale Lary, Aggies' Top Punter, Has Been Practicing Many Years|newspaper=The Eagle (Bryan, TX)|date=November 30, 1950|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4168776/yale_lary_aggies_top_punter/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==College career==
Lary enrolled at [[Texas A&M University]], where he played [[college football]] for the [[Texas A&M Aggies football]] team from 1949 to 1951. On November 29, 1951, in his last college football game, Lary ran 68 yards for a touchdown and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, both in the third quarter, to lead [[1951 Texas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M]] to its first victory over [[1951 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]] in 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Texas A&M Tops Texas First Time in 12 Years|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 30, 1951|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4162618/texas_am_tops_texas/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> After the season, he was selected by the [[Associated Press]] as a first-team defensive back on the [[1951 All-Southwest Conference football team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Longhorns Dominate AP All-Southwest Conference Selections|author=Howard Ratliff|newspaper=Lubbock Morning Avalanche|date=December 5, 1950|page=H5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2987303/longhorns_dominate_ap_all_southwest/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Lary also starred in baseball as an outfielder for the [[Texas A&M Aggies baseball|Texas A&M baseball team]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Richard|title=Yale Lary, a Force on the Detroit Lions' Title-Winning Teams of the 1950s, Dies at 86|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/14/sports/football/yale-lary-detroit-lions-dead-86.html|access-date=May 15, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 15, 2017|page=B9}}</ref> He set a [[Southwest Conference]] record for doubles and led the 1951 Texas A&M team to the [[Southwest Conference]] co-championship, a 20–9 record, and an appearance in the [[1951 College World Series]].<ref name=TAMU>{{cite web |title=R. Yale Lary '52, Baseball |publisher=Texas A&M Lettermen's Association |access-date=January 29, 2016 |url=https://www.aggielettermen.org/r-yale-lary-52-baseball-footall/ |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202051635/https://www.aggielettermen.org/r-yale-lary-52-baseball-footall/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional athlete==

===Detroit Lions (1952–1953)===
Lary was selected by the [[Detroit Lions]] in the first round of the [[1952 NFL draft]]. He signed with the Lions in June 1952,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lions Sign Yale Lary|newspaper=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|date=June 28, 1952|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4163390/lions_sign_yale_lary/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and played his entire NFL career for the Lions as a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]], [[punter (football)|punter]], and [[return specialist]].

As a rookie, Lary played all 12 regular-season games in the defensive backfield, intercepting four passes and recovering a fumble.  He also returned 16 punts for an 11.4 yard average (including a 58-yard return for a touchdown against the [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]]) and 12 kickoffs for a 25.2-yard average.<ref name=PFR/>  The [[1952 Detroit Lions season|Lions]] defeated the [[1952 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]], 17–7, in the [[1952 NFL Championship Game]].

In his second NFL season, Lary intercepted five passes in 11 regular season games,<ref name=PFR/> and returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown against the [[Baltimore Colts]] on October 4, 1953.<ref>{{cite news|title=Path to 2nd Title Thorny, Lions Find|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 5, 1953|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4163926/path_to_2nd_title_thorny/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The Lions again defeated the Browns, 17–16, in the [[1953 NFL Championship Game]]. Lary was selected to play in the [[1953 Pro Bowl]].<ref name=PFR/>

===Professional baseball===
Lary also played professional baseball in the summer during his first few years in the NFL. He had been offered a $20,000 bonus by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] after his junior season, but he declined the offer and returned for his senior year at Texas A&M.<ref name=HG/> In January 1953, within days after the Lions' NFL championship, Lary signed a contract to play professional baseball for the [[Beaumont Exporters]] of the [[Texas League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Yale Lary Will Play Baseball With Beaumont|newspaper=The Eagle (Bryan, Texas)|date=January 15, 1953|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170311/yale_lary_will_play_baseball/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He appeared in at least seven games for Beaumont in 1953.<ref name=BR>{{cite news|title=Yale Lary Register|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=lary--001rob}}</ref> Lary again played minor league baseball in the summer of 1953, batting .429 for the [[Lake Charles Lakers]] and also playing for the [[Macon Peaches]].<ref name=BR/> In 1956, he played for the [[Austin Senators]] of the [[Texas League]].<ref name=BR/><ref>{{cite news|title=Two Sport Pro|newspaper=The News-Palladium|date=August 2, 1956|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170317/two_sport_pro/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>  He concluded his baseball career in 1957, appearing in 24 games for Lake Charles and five games for Austin.<ref name=BR/>

===Military service===
In May 1954, Lary, who had served in the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] at Texas A&M and was a reserve lieutenant, was ordered to report for duty in the [[United States Army]], effective in July.<ref>{{cite news|title=Second Lion Regular, Lary, Gets Army Call|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 28, 1954|page=27|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4163973/second_lion_regular_lary_gets_army/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lions Lose Lary To Army Service|newspaper=Corpus Christi Times|date=May 28, 1954|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170329/lions_lose_lary/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>  Lary was stationed at [[Fort Benning]] in [[Georgia (U. S. state)|Georgia]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Lary To Be Back With Lions Club|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=January 8, 1956|page=38|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170336/lary_to_be_back/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and missed the 1954 and 1955 seasons due to military service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Hara |first1=Mike |title=Remembering Yale Lary |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-remembering-yale-lary-18850489 |website=[[Detroit Lions]] |access-date=3 April 2024}}</ref>

===Detroit Lions (1956–1964)===
[[File:Yale Lary 1961.jpg|thumb|left|Lary in 1961]]
In January 1956, Lary signed a contract to return to the Lions after completing his military service in May 1956.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports Bulletins|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 7, 1956|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4164021/sports_bulletins/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Upon returning to the Lions, Lary became a regular in the Pro Bowl, playing in the all-star match every year from 1956 to 1962 and again in 1964.<ref name=PFR/>  He also received first-team All-NFL honors in five years: 1956 ([[Associated Press]] [AP] and ''[[The Sporting News]]'' [TSN]); 1957 (TSN, [[United Press International]] [UPI], [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]] [NEA]); 1958 (AP, UPI, NEA); 1959 (TSN, NEA); and 1962 (AP, UPI, NEA).<ref name=PFR/>

During his NFL career, Lary played in Detroit's dominant defensive backfields that also included Hall of Fame inductees [[Jack Christiansen]], [[Dick Lane (American football)|Night Train Lane]], and [[Dick LeBeau]] and six-time [[Pro Bowl]] selectee [[Jim David (American football)|Jim David]], with Hall of Famer [[Joe Schmidt (American football)|Joe Schmidt]] filling in the gaps at middle linebacker. Playing at the right safety position, Lary ranked second in the NFL with eight interceptions in both 1956 and 1962.  During his career, he totaled 50 interceptions, which ranked fifth in NFL history at the time of his retirement (trailing only [[Emlen Tunnell]], Night Train Lane, [[Jack Butler (American football)|Jack Butler]], and [[Bobby Dillon]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=NFL Career Interceptions Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/def_int_career.htm}}</ref><ref name=WHIN/>  His 50 interception currently ranks third in Detroit Lions history behind [[Dick LeBeau]] and [[Lem Barney]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Player Season Finder Query Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=February 20, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&year_min=1920&year_max=2015&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&league_id=&team_id=det&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_qb=Y&pos_is_rb=Y&pos_is_wr=Y&pos_is_te=Y&pos_is_e=Y&pos_is_t=Y&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_ol=Y&pos_is_dt=Y&pos_is_de=Y&pos_is_dl=Y&pos_is_ilb=Y&pos_is_olb=Y&pos_is_lb=Y&pos_is_cb=Y&pos_is_s=Y&pos_is_db=Y&pos_is_k=Y&pos_is_p=Y&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5comp=&c5gtlt=lt&c6mult=1.0&c6comp=&order_by=def_int&draft=0&draft_year_min=1936&draft_year_max=2015&type=&draft_round_min=0&draft_round_max=99&draft_slot_min=1&draft_slot_max=500&draft_pick_in_round=0&draft_league_id=&draft_team_id=&college_id=all&conference=any&draft_pos_is_qb=Y&draft_pos_is_rb=Y&draft_pos_is_wr=Y&draft_pos_is_te=Y&draft_pos_is_e=Y&draft_pos_is_t=Y&draft_pos_is_g=Y&draft_pos_is_c=Y&draft_pos_is_ol=Y&draft_pos_is_dt=Y&draft_pos_is_de=Y&draft_pos_is_dl=Y&draft_pos_is_ilb=Y&draft_pos_is_olb=Y&draft_pos_is_lb=Y&draft_pos_is_cb=Y&draft_pos_is_s=Y&draft_pos_is_db=Y&draft_pos_is_k=Y&draft_pos_is_p=Y|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310135748/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&year_min=1920&year_max=2015&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&league_id=&team_id=det&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_qb=Y&pos_is_rb=Y&pos_is_wr=Y&pos_is_te=Y&pos_is_e=Y&pos_is_t=Y&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_ol=Y&pos_is_dt=Y&pos_is_de=Y&pos_is_dl=Y&pos_is_ilb=Y&pos_is_olb=Y&pos_is_lb=Y&pos_is_cb=Y&pos_is_s=Y&pos_is_db=Y&pos_is_k=Y&pos_is_p=Y&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5comp=&c5gtlt=lt&c6mult=1.0&c6comp=&order_by=def_int&draft=0&draft_year_min=1936&draft_year_max=2015&type=&draft_round_min=0&draft_round_max=99&draft_slot_min=1&draft_slot_max=500&draft_pick_in_round=0&draft_league_id=&draft_team_id=&college_id=all&conference=any&draft_pos_is_qb=Y&draft_pos_is_rb=Y&draft_pos_is_wr=Y&draft_pos_is_te=Y&draft_pos_is_e=Y&draft_pos_is_t=Y&draft_pos_is_g=Y&draft_pos_is_c=Y&draft_pos_is_ol=Y&draft_pos_is_dt=Y&draft_pos_is_de=Y&draft_pos_is_dl=Y&draft_pos_is_ilb=Y&draft_pos_is_olb=Y&draft_pos_is_lb=Y&draft_pos_is_cb=Y&draft_pos_is_s=Y&draft_pos_is_db=Y&draft_pos_is_k=Y&draft_pos_is_p=Y|archive-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lary was also known for his speed and evasiveness on interception returns.  He returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown in 1956, and his career total of 787 interception return yards ranked fifth in NFL history at the time of his retirement.<ref>{{cite web|title=NFL Career Interception Return Yards Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/def_int_yds_career.htm}}</ref>

In 1957, Lary helped lead the Lions to a third NFL championship in his four years with the team. On October 13, 1957, he intercepted two passes against the [[Los Angeles Rams]], including one which he returned 63 yards to set up the game-winning touchdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tired Lions Cheer – 'Yeah Defense!'|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 14, 1957|page=39|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4164210/tired_lions_cheer_yeah_defense/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>   The Lions defeated the Browns, 59–14, in the [[1957 NFL Championship Game]].

From 1959 to 1964, Lary was the most dominant punter in the NFL.  He led the league in punting average in 1959 (45 punts for a 47.1 yard average and a long punt of 67 yards), 1961 (52 punts for an average of 48.4 yards and long punt of 71 yards) and 1963 (35 punts for an average of 48.9 yards and a long punt of 73 yards). Lary narrowly missed a fourth punting title in 1964, trailing [[Bobby Walden]] by one-tenth of a yard (or 3.6 inches) at 46.3 yards per punt.<ref>{{cite web|title=1964 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964/leaders.htm}}</ref>  In 1962, he was two-tenths of a yard from the lead,<ref>{{cite web|title=1962 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1962/leaders.htm}}</ref> losing the punting title due to a single blocked punt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detroit Back Wins Crown|newspaper=The Holland Evening Sentinel|date=December 20, 1962|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170940/detroit_back_wins_crown/}}(Excluding the block, Lary averaged 49.7 yards on his other 51 punts.)</ref>  Over the course of his 11-year NFL career, he punted 503 times for 22,279 yards for an average of 44.3 yards.<ref name=PFR/>  His 48.9 yard average in 1963 was the second highest single-season total in NFL history, trailing only [[Sammy Baugh]]'s 51.3 yard average in 1940.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yale Kicking Ace Yale Lary Quits|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=July 24, 1965|page=2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4168352/lion_kicking_ace_yale_lary_quits/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> At the time of his retirement in 1964, Lary's 44.3 yard career punting average ranked second in NFL history, trailing only [[Sammy Baugh]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NFL Career Yards per Punt Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_yds_per_punt_career.htm}}</ref><ref name=GP/>

In addition to the length of his punts, Lary was also known for the [[:wikt:hang time|hang time]] on his punts and once had a string of six games and 32 punts with no returns.<ref name=PP/>  Teammate [[Joe Schmidt (American football)|Joe Schmidt]] later recalled, "Kicking from the end zone, Yale invariably put the ball across midfield with enough hang time to let us cover the kick. He made our defense look good because he always gave us room to work."<ref>{{cite web|title=Yale Lary Bio|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/yale-lary/biography/}}</ref>

In 1992, sports writer Jack Saylor rated Lary as the second best punter in NFL history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rankings|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 3, 1992|page=16E|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170387/rankings/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Paul Hornung]] went further, saying in 2004 that Lary was the best punter ever.<ref name=PP>{{cite book|title=100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|author=Paula Pasche|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2012|isbn=978-1623680213|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/100thingslionsfa0000pasc}}</ref>

Lary also handled punt returns for the Lions. He returned three punts for touchdowns and was among the NFL leaders in punt return yardage and yards per return in 1952, 1953, 1957, and 1958.<ref name=PFR/> He had the NFL's longest punt return in 1957 at 71 yards.<ref name=PFR/>

In July 1965, Lary announced that he was retiring from football.  He said at the time that "it's too much to move my wife and kids twice a year.  It's not fair to them."<ref name=WHIN/>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[History of the NFL championship|NFL championship]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="6"| Punting
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! Punts !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Average}} !! {{abbr|Blk|Blocked punts}} 
|-
! [[1952 NFL season|1952]] !! [[1952 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 5 || 181 || 43 || 36.2 || 0
|-
! [[1953 NFL season|1953]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1953 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 11 || 28 || 1,112 || 61 || 39.7 || 0
|-
! [[1956 NFL season|1956]] !! [[1956 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 42 || 1,698 || 41 || 40.4 || 0
|-
! [[1957 NFL season|1957]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1957 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 54 || 2,156 || 66 || 39.9 || 0
|-
! [[1958 NFL season|1958]] !! [[1958 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 59 || 2,524 || 62 || 42.8 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 1
|-
! [[1959 NFL season|1959]] !! [[1959 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 10 || 45 || 2,121 || 67 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 47.1 || 0
|-
! [[1960 NFL season|1960]] !! [[1960 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 64 || 2,802 || 63 || 43.8 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''2'''
|-
! [[1961 NFL season|1961]] !! [[1961 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || 52 || 2,519 || 71 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 48.4 || 0
|-
! [[1962 NFL season|1962]] !! [[1962 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || 52 || 2,354 || 68 || 45.3 || 1
|-
! [[1963 NFL season|1963]] !! [[1963 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 10 || 35 || 1,713 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''73''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''48.9''' || 0
|-
! [[1964 NFL season|1964]] !! [[1964 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || '''67''' || '''3,099''' || '''73''' || 46.3 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 133 !! 503 !! 22,279 !! 73 !! 44.3 !! 4
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="6"| Punting
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! Punts !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Average}} !! {{abbr|Blk|Blocked punts}} 
|-
! [[1953 NFL season|1953]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1953 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 1 || 4 || 197 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''72''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''49.3''' || 0
|-
! [[1957 NFL season|1957]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1957 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 2 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''8''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''318''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 50 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 39.8 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 3 !! 12 !! 515 !! 72 !! 42.9 !! 0
|}

==Personal life and later years==
Lary and his wife, Mary Jane, were married in 1952.  They had two children: Yale Jr., and Nancy Jane. Followed by four grandchildren Tara, and Tori Mathews <ref>{{cite book|title=Game of My Life Texas A&M Aggies: Memorable Stories of Aggies Football|author=Brent Zwerneman|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.|year=2013|isbn=978-1613214558}}</ref> Yale III, and Erin Lary.

Even before retiring from the NFL, Lary served in the [[Texas House of Representatives]], as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]],  from  1959 to 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/mobile/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=1083|title=Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile|website=www.lrl.state.tx.us|access-date=May 12, 2017|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005412/http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/mobile/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=1083|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=HG/><ref>{{cite news|title='Senator' Sparkles: Defensive Vote For Yale Lary|author=George Puscas|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 10, 1960|page=44|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4168573/defensive_vote_for_yale_lary/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>  In February 1965, he also broke ground on a [[Ford Motor Company]] dealership in Fort Worth to be owned by Lary and a childhood friend.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yale Lary To Sell Cars In Fort Worth|newspaper=San Antonio Express|date=February 21, 1965|page=5C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4168721/yale_lary_to_sell_cars/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He operated the automobile dealership for nearly a decade.<ref name=HG>{{cite news|author=Howard Green|title=Another Lary looms on the scene|newspaper=Irving Daily News|date=July 30, 1975|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170287/another_lary_looms_on_the_scene/}}</ref> He later formed an investment company with interests in real estate, oil and gas leases, and oil and natural gas production.<ref name=WHIN>{{cite news|title=Where He Is Now; Yale Lary: Safety First|newspaper=Ukiah (CA) Daily Herald|date=September 11, 1981|page=1C, 2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4168199/yale_lary_safety_first/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=GP/> He died on May 11, 2017, at the age of 86.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/yale-lary-1930-2017/|title=Yale Lary, 1930-2017|date=May 12, 2017|website=Pro Football Hall of Fame|language=en|access-date=May 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-great-pro-football-hall-of-famer-yale-lary-dies-at-86-0ap3000000808340|title=Lions great, Pro Football Hall of Famer Yale Lary dies at 86|date=May 12, 2017|access-date=May 12, 2017|publisher=National Football League|language=en}}</ref>

== Honors ==
Lary has received numerous honors and awards since retiring from football. These include:

* In 1969, Lary was selected as a defensive back on the [[National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1950s All-Decade Team|work=NFL.com|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/legends/1950s}}</ref>
* In 1973, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions in both baseball and football.<ref name=TAMU/><ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame Inductees|publisher=Texas A&M Lettermen's Association|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.aggielettermen.org/hall-of-fame-and-honor/hall-of-fame-inductee-list/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223093438/http://www.aggielettermen.org/hall-of-fame-and-honor/hall-of-fame-inductee-list/|archive-date=February 23, 2013}}</ref>
* In 1979, he was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], becoming only the fifth defensive back to be inducted, and only the second to be inducted for contributions to punting (charter member [[Sammy Baugh]] being the first).<ref name=GP>{{cite news|title=New Hall of Famer Lary recalls Lions' glory days|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 30, 1979|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4167902/new_hall_of_famer_lary_recalls_lions/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1983, sports writer George Puscas of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' included Lary on his all-time Lions team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Puscas picks best of the Lions|author=George Puscas|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 4, 1983|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4156089/puscas_picks_best_of_the_lions/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1988, he was inducted into the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Overdue 'Train' happy to reach Hall of Fame|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 26, 1988|page=D1, D2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4170380/overdue_train_happy_to_reach_hall_of/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1994, Lary was inducted into the [[Texas Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Inductees|publisher=Texas Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=January 29, 2016|url=http://www.tshof.org/inductees/|archive-date=September 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930041141/http://www.tshof.org/inductees/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Profootballhof|id=124|name=Yale Lary}}
*{{commonscatinline}}
 
{{Lions1952DraftPicks}}
{{Pride of the Lions}}
{{Lions75th}}
{{Detroit Lions All-Time Team}}
{{1952 Detroit Lions}}
{{1953 Detroit Lions}}
{{1957 Detroit Lions}}
{{NFL1950s}}
{{1979 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lary, Yale}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:American football punters]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Texas A&M Aggies baseball players]]
[[Category:Texas A&M Aggies football players]]
[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:Beaumont Exporters players]]
[[Category:Austin Senators players]]
[[Category:Macon Peaches players]]
[[Category:Lake Charles Lakers players]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Texas]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Texas]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Texas Legislature]]