The best all-around return man I ever saw. There were faster men, but Mel Gray made the right choices and above-average yardage almost every time. He was bold and aggressive, but not foolish. And he was great for a long time.
Well said. He was also fearless and decisive. He caught it, he was almost always immediately moving forward. Of course he wouldn't always remain in that same direction, butvoften did get up a quick head of steam. I noticed from this highlight reel that he had some good help from Detroit special teams of the time too - some nice lanes opened up.
Nothing like the 80's and 90's Lions in the Silverdome, those were special times to be a Lions fan ! That place would be ELECTRIC, never went deep in the playoffs, but we sure had some REAL talent !!
That 94 Lion's team was so well balanced with Mel Gray on special teams, Barry Sanders, in the backfield, Perriman and Moore at wideout, Willie Clay, Chris Spielman and Robert Porcher on defense. It's still a head scratcher on how they failed to make it to the Super Bowl.
It was also Johnnie Morton’s rookie year, though he didn’t contribute a whole lot until the next year. Still, having him in ‘94 was just added depth behind Moore and Perriman. Lomas was still here too, he definitely helped open some holes for Barry. Too bad he didn’t get into the Hall of Fame this year. I still wonder what might have been, if Erik Andolsek wasn’t tragically killed and Mike Utley wasn’t paralyzed...both just a few years before ‘94. This team is cursed. Just look at Matt Stafford. He only needed ONE OPPORTUNITY on a team not named “Lions” to get a ring. He literally won immediately after leaving Detroit. Next time the league expands, give the new city the Lions...give Detroit the expansion team😂
@@fjeezy1305 screw Matt Stafford. The Bengals got robbed. The refs swallowed the whistle all game. Then they called a borderline penalty that really wasn't a penalty. Roger Goodell fixed the game with Vegas. Screw Stafford. Real Lions fans oil he's overrated
@@MrSneaksful I don’t think they needed a great quarterback just a decent one because you had pro bowlers at key positions who could pick up the slack for lack there of at quarterback. Who was there quarterback again “Mitchell” I think 🤔
VERY cool, thank you for this. Periodically I have tried to find a highlight reel of his since i was indroduced to the internet, it finally happened today. Gray was only a half step behind Barry in terms of pure electricity every time he got the ball. Phenomenal we had both of them at the same time! I noticed in this reel they both had that tendency to destroy Tampa Bay. Tampa had mostly good teams throughout the 90s too...
Before Donte hall, Devin Hester. There was this man right here. Mel Gray. One of, if not the it the best to ever do it. Especially in the era of football he played in. Bad Man
In addition to everything else he did well on kick returns, he really knew how to use his blockers. Watching this compilation brought me right back; see how many times he would change course, slow down a little, and actually put his hand on the small of a blocker's back. Dude was amazing. Every kick to the Lions was exciting. I remember the announcers saying "dangerous Melvin Gray back to receive." Around my home, he was known as Dangerous Melvin.
Once Mel Gray had thst arm and open hand going in full stride, that was all she wrote! ...He also played in high school with Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier and Lawrence Taylor.
Ty for video. I saw every home game 4 Lions. From 1989 to 2009 with season tickets. Loved watching Mel gray and when he ran his head moved to remind me of a horse. He was bad to the bone. On the way you can make video better if you put some stats at the end I wonder if he's still the leader in return yards
In case you never bothered to look it up, Gray is still 4th all-time in kickoff return yardage (surprisingly Hester is only 10th), and 16th in punt return yardage (Hester 3rd, another surprise to me - I thought for sure he would be number one in at least one of those).
I was at the last Chicago game they showed at the silver dome. Mel Grey took it from the far end zone right at me and my wife in the corner of the end zone he ran to 👍. The great Barry busted one off in this game as well. Good times.
Mel Gray is in my top 5 list of all-time return specialists (possibly top three behind only Devin Hester and Brian Mitchell)...and he did it for a long time, too. Most of the great return men that I can think of lost a step by the time they hit age 30. Most of them stopped doing returns and focused on whatever their other specialties (if they hadn’t already retired that is). Mel Gray turned 30 and hit his stride from there. I swear he got a lot faster after he turned 30!
Love Gray, but for a return man to consistently be able to successfully catch the ball, and then take off like he got shot out of a cannon, some good blocking had to be there too. I think it was the first return on this highlight reel that the Lions blockers seemed to be weaving, alternating the blocks they would pick up in an interesting pattern... Which left the widest lane for a return man I've ever seen in my 50 years of watching the NFL. Great scheme, well executed.
@@1Dub79 I should hope not, judging by your avi. Lol I collect jerseys, have hundreds of authentics and game issued or game used ones but have never been able to add a Mitchell. I never see any. Just picked up an '86 Dexter Manley last week though and a game worn Jim Lachey Pro Bowl a few months ago.
@@sixburgh64ss Jim Lachey was my favorite LT, when I became a Skins fan. Of course, Joe Jacoby, Chris Samuels and Trent Williams were some of the best LTs, which the Skins had.
@@1Dub79 Here is the Lachey I won www.vsaauctions.com/Jim_Lachey_1992_Game_Used___Autographed_Pro_Bowl_J-LOT28850.aspx The only other Skins I have are an early 80s Riggo, a Darrell Green '94 throwback style they wore for a couple games that year, one home & one away 2000 Deions and his #2 practice style jersey that he wore for a tv interview or two and signed.
I funny growing up as a Bucs fan in the NFC Central and seeing basically everyone they played against now enshrined in the HOF. Chris Carter, Barry Sanders, Mel Gray, Jackie Sackenstein (Green Bay)........
Mel Gray is not enshrined in the HOF. He is nominated this year for the 2021 class. Please go to Profootballhof.com and vote for him. You can vote once a day through Jan 31, 2021. Must be 18 yrs to vote. Each vote qualifies for great prizes, including an all expense paid trip to enshrinement.
Better Detriot Lion. Sanders or Gray. Hard to believe they were both on the same team at the same time for a few yrs. Glad to see it when i was coming up
I’m gonna show my age here but this guy was an entire cheat on the ps1 madden. He was fast and you could put him at the no. 2 receiver and run play action all day.
One of the most amazing stats I ever stumbled upon a few years ago... Mr Right-Place-Right-Time! I don't think that record will ever be touched. The QBs are too good anymore, the passes much shorter and safer. He was a safety, right?
My friend, you only scratched the surface...the 1990s Lions were LOADED with talent - pro bowlers Gray, Moore, Sanders, Blades, Ball, Spielman, Cofer, Perriman, Glover, Brown, Hansen, Mitchell...other great players like Morton, Owens, Pritchett, Crocket, Sloan, Crowell, W.White, Jamison...loaded! They SHOULD have been better, no question. Either blame it on the curse, or Wayne Fontes...or Fontes perpetuating the curse...! 3 very good players either killed or paralyzed during that time - Mike Utley, Eric Andolsek, and Reggie Brown. Chalk that up to the curse, Wayne gets a pass there...
For me the best return guy ever
The best all-around return man I ever saw. There were faster men, but Mel Gray made the right choices and above-average yardage almost every time. He was bold and aggressive, but not foolish. And he was great for a long time.
Well said. He was also fearless and decisive. He caught it, he was almost always immediately moving forward. Of course he wouldn't always remain in that same direction, butvoften did get up a quick head of steam. I noticed from this highlight reel that he had some good help from Detroit special teams of the time too - some nice lanes opened up.
One of the better return specialists of all time... he was dazzling in his day
You heard it here, he was number one for a time...
Mel Gray and Barry Sanders made me their fans even when the Lions play the Vikings. Thanks for being you Sir Gray!
I want to say. No one knew if this guy back in the day. I use to talk about him so much.
Very unheralded outside of Detroit... Even in detroit, he faded considerably in the shadow of Barry.
He was a burner!
Nothing like the 80's and 90's Lions in the Silverdome, those were special times to be a Lions fan ! That place would be ELECTRIC, never went deep in the playoffs, but we sure had some REAL talent !!
Wellll... You can't go too much deeper than the NFC championship game...
That 94 Lion's team was so well balanced with Mel Gray on special teams, Barry Sanders, in the backfield, Perriman and Moore at wideout, Willie Clay, Chris Spielman and Robert Porcher on defense. It's still a head scratcher on how they failed to make it to the Super Bowl.
It was also Johnnie Morton’s rookie year, though he didn’t contribute a whole lot until the next year. Still, having him in ‘94 was just added depth behind Moore and Perriman. Lomas was still here too, he definitely helped open some holes for Barry. Too bad he didn’t get into the Hall of Fame this year.
I still wonder what might have been, if Erik Andolsek wasn’t tragically killed and Mike Utley wasn’t paralyzed...both just a few years before ‘94.
This team is cursed. Just look at Matt Stafford. He only needed ONE OPPORTUNITY on a team not named “Lions” to get a ring. He literally won immediately after leaving Detroit. Next time the league expands, give the new city the Lions...give Detroit the expansion team😂
@@fjeezy1305 screw Matt Stafford. The Bengals got robbed. The refs swallowed the whistle all game. Then they called a borderline penalty that really wasn't a penalty. Roger Goodell fixed the game with Vegas. Screw Stafford. Real Lions fans oil he's overrated
🤣👍
You left out a important piece like say, the quarterback, they had turds the whole time Barry was there. Complete turds.
@@MrSneaksful I don’t think they needed a great quarterback just a decent one because you had pro bowlers at key positions who could pick up the slack for lack there of at quarterback. Who was there quarterback again “Mitchell” I think 🤔
Mel Gray was fearless. Catch the ball straight up the field.
that's what made him so good. He was running full tilt wherever he decided to go.
VERY cool, thank you for this. Periodically I have tried to find a highlight reel of his since i was indroduced to the internet, it finally happened today. Gray was only a half step behind Barry in terms of pure electricity every time he got the ball. Phenomenal we had both of them at the same time! I noticed in this reel they both had that tendency to destroy Tampa Bay. Tampa had mostly good teams throughout the 90s too...
During his playing days with the #DetroitLions, #MelGray was fearless, dangerous, electric - AWESOME! 😎
I thought I was watching Barry Sanders for a second. His cuts are identical.
Before Donte hall, Devin Hester. There was this man right here. Mel Gray. One of, if not the it the best to ever do it. Especially in the era of football he played in. Bad Man
In addition to everything else he did well on kick returns, he really knew how to use his blockers. Watching this compilation brought me right back; see how many times he would change course, slow down a little, and actually put his hand on the small of a blocker's back. Dude was amazing. Every kick to the Lions was exciting. I remember the announcers saying "dangerous Melvin Gray back to receive." Around my home, he was known as Dangerous Melvin.
Yes, very true how he used his blockers well, great field vision.
Was reminiscing about some of my all time favorite lions players! Mel we still love ya
Went to school with his daughter and he came to visit us at school. What a pleasure to see and meet this great!
This dude was amazing.... I’m from NYC and I’m a lions fan (Barry, Herman Moore, and Mel Gray) were my favorite players)
Once Mel Gray had thst arm and open hand going in full stride, that was all she wrote!
...He also played in high school with Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier and Lawrence Taylor.
Mel Gray just one of a kind...super burst of speed to get up field..a Lions legend.
Ty for video.
I saw every home game 4 Lions.
From 1989 to 2009 with season tickets.
Loved watching Mel gray and when he ran his head moved to remind me of a horse.
He was bad to the bone.
On the way you can make video better if you put some stats at the end I wonder if he's still the leader in return yards
Oh no, you toughed out the winless season, and then quit going when they got good again?
In case you never bothered to look it up, Gray is still 4th all-time in kickoff return yardage (surprisingly Hester is only 10th), and 16th in punt return yardage (Hester 3rd, another surprise to me - I thought for sure he would be number one in at least one of those).
It was fun to play with him on Madden on Sega Genesis
I remember he had unlimited speed burst on that game
I was at the last Chicago game they showed at the silver dome. Mel Grey took it from the far end zone right at me and my wife in the corner of the end zone he ran to 👍. The great Barry busted one off in this game as well. Good times.
Man....beeen looking all over for his highlights! Thank you once again JSN. You are the king!
He was the most dangerous kick returner of all time i was very blessed to see alot of lion's games in the 90s
Backup to Barry in Tecmo but with his speed you could put him in as a receiver.
Facts
Mel Gray is in my top 5 list of all-time return specialists (possibly top three behind only Devin Hester and Brian Mitchell)...and he did it for a long time, too. Most of the great return men that I can think of lost a step by the time they hit age 30. Most of them stopped doing returns and focused on whatever their other specialties (if they hadn’t already retired that is). Mel Gray turned 30 and hit his stride from there. I swear he got a lot faster after he turned 30!
For sure, he was definitely number one when he retired, and for quite a time after that too.
3:39 THE greatest kick-off return I have ever seen
I have never seen a guy go north and south so quickly, he found a lane and hit it quickly
Exactly! No hesitation at all. One of my favorite all time Lions players.
Love Gray, but for a return man to consistently be able to successfully catch the ball, and then take off like he got shot out of a cannon, some good blocking had to be there too. I think it was the first return on this highlight reel that the Lions blockers seemed to be weaving, alternating the blocks they would pick up in an interesting pattern... Which left the widest lane for a return man I've ever seen in my 50 years of watching the NFL. Great scheme, well executed.
His name was synonymous with return leader.
So deserves consideration for a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, right along with Brian Mitchell.
Mel was like good bourben. He got better with age. Guy was smooth as hell
he was a great one.....
Great tribute highlight tape. Mel Gray appreciate this! 👏🏾
Wait are you related to him or something? I have lived in the D all my life and LOVED watching him return so much! He was insane!!
beefcurtainz69 yes
Devon Gray oh damn Nice! So cool!
@@RV89_ went to grade school with his daughter. He visited our class once or twice. Super cool!
What a talent
The moves he made to bad they didn’t use him a RB or receiver more
Great choice.
How about Brian Mitchell?
Dude is second only to Jerry Rice in all-purpose yards, yet a lot of people are unaware of him.
Shiiiiit! Not me!
@@1Dub79 I should hope not, judging by your avi. Lol I collect jerseys, have hundreds of authentics and game issued or game used ones but have never been able to add a Mitchell. I never see any. Just picked up an '86 Dexter Manley last week though and a game worn Jim Lachey Pro Bowl a few months ago.
@@sixburgh64ss Jim Lachey was my favorite LT, when I became a Skins fan. Of course, Joe Jacoby, Chris Samuels and Trent Williams were some of the best LTs, which the Skins had.
@@1Dub79 Here is the Lachey I won www.vsaauctions.com/Jim_Lachey_1992_Game_Used___Autographed_Pro_Bowl_J-LOT28850.aspx The only other Skins I have are an early 80s Riggo, a Darrell Green '94 throwback style they wore for a couple games that year, one home & one away 2000 Deions and his #2 practice style jersey that he wore for a tv interview or two and signed.
b mitch was a beast
Thank You!
He was a beast on "NFL 95" for Sega Genesis. IYKYK
Greatest in team history
Who was the greatest in team history? Are you saying he was the greatest lion ever??
Greatest return man in team history
Really not a close second....Hopalong Cassidy?!😁
Niiiiice!!!
Can we Get Bob Sanders Highlights, 2007 DPOY and was snubbed out of 2 SB’s and a HoF Because of injuries
He was a gem for sure. Another was Billy “white shoes” Johnson
Bah! Mel made Billy's white shoes blue...!
He ran circles around him!
I funny growing up as a Bucs fan in the NFC Central and seeing basically everyone they played against now enshrined in the HOF. Chris Carter, Barry Sanders, Mel Gray, Jackie Sackenstein (Green Bay)........
Mel Gray is not enshrined in the HOF. He is nominated this year for the 2021 class. Please go to Profootballhof.com and vote for him. You can vote once a day through Jan 31, 2021. Must be 18 yrs to vote. Each vote qualifies for great prizes, including an all expense paid trip to enshrinement.
Mel Gray was a bad ass! He ran with reckless abandon.
If you picked Detroit on Tecmo Bowl, you did so for Barry, but if you knew, you knew you also had Mel on them punts and kicks lol
Loved him as a lion...he scored the winning td against the Michigan Panthers in triple overtime in 1984...that sucked!!!
He was pretty good in Madden 95
Bro he was super fast in that game like it was unbelievable
Explosive
can you do a career tape of Derrick Mason?
Charley Sanders and Megatron too!,
Better Detriot Lion. Sanders or Gray. Hard to believe they were both on the same team at the same time for a few yrs. Glad to see it when i was coming up
I’m gonna show my age here but this guy was an entire cheat on the ps1 madden. He was fast and you could put him at the no. 2 receiver and run play action all day.
Same high school district that produced Lawrence Taylor, Allen Iverson and Mike Vick. Same high school team as Taylor.
They sleeping on Mel.....
Can you do Paul Krause.. Mr 81 ints
One of the most amazing stats I ever stumbled upon a few years ago... Mr Right-Place-Right-Time! I don't think that record will ever be touched. The QBs are too good anymore, the passes much shorter and safer. He was a safety, right?
Folks forget about Mel Grey. Smh...
Excellent return man, good speed but not as fast as the first Mel Gray.
Well the other Mel Gray did have that Olympic speed!! But, this Mel gray did a lot more in the NFL
@@RV89_ Both had good careers. This Mel Gray 3x All Pro, the older one 1x. This Mel Gray 10 career TDs, the older one 46.
Shout out original NFL Primetime & score!!!
Prime Time...the Humble version!
Mel grey was nice dou Eric Metcalf next he was a problem
When Tecmo Super Bowl was released and rhey had all the team, Mel Grey was a SERIOUS problem on the game. Any return he got, he was gone!
Can you do QB Wade Wilson?
Do eddie drummond or Lawrence Taylor
Eddie Drummond?
I need more niners bro jj stokes Brent Jones
One of the best!
Lions had Sanders, Mel Grey, Herman Moore, Rodney Peete. They should have been better.
Rodney Peete isn't nothing to brag about 😂😂😂
My friend, you only scratched the surface...the 1990s Lions were LOADED with talent - pro bowlers Gray, Moore, Sanders, Blades, Ball, Spielman, Cofer, Perriman, Glover, Brown, Hansen, Mitchell...other great players like Morton, Owens, Pritchett, Crocket, Sloan, Crowell, W.White, Jamison...loaded!
They SHOULD have been better, no question. Either blame it on the curse, or Wayne Fontes...or Fontes perpetuating the curse...!
3 very good players either killed or paralyzed during that time - Mike Utley, Eric Andolsek, and Reggie Brown. Chalk that up to the curse, Wayne gets a pass there...