Louisville football: The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time

Our third-ranked player is a guy that hardly receives the recognition he deserves as a football player and humanitarian in the City of Louisville.

In 1954, Lenny Lyles became the first African-American football player at the University of Louisville, and then became one of the greatest Cardinals of all time.

The “fastest man in football,” Lyles guided the Cards to their first-ever appearance in a postseason bowl game by his senior year in 1957. In between, he became one of the most prolific rushers in the game, leading the nation in rushing yards and picking up where former quarterback great Johnny Unitas left off.

Lyles led the nation in scoring that season and still is the second-leading scorer as a non-kicker in Louisville football history. He also set Louisville records for points in a season and in a career, yards gained in a season and most rushing yards in a career.

Most importantly, Lyles, a Louisville native and graduate of Central High School, broke the color barrier for Louisville football. Given the cultural climate in America in 1954, for Lyles as a young kid to be Louisville’s first African-American player, that courage deserves serious recognition.

Post-college, Lyles was selected No. 11 overall in the 1958 NFL Draft to be paired in the backfield with another former Cardinal in Unitas on the Baltimore Colts. However, upon his arrival Lyles was switched to defense where he starred as a cornerback, winning two NFL championships in 1958 and 1968.

After his pro career, Lyles became an executive at Brown and Williamson. He reportedly donated a lot of his earnings to help build up and revitalize West Louisville.

A true groundbreaker, brave example, and consummate Cardinal, Lenny Lyles passed away in 2011.