With his 59-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate in the third quarter today, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has broken Bobby Layne’s career franchise record. Stafford now has 119 touchdown passes.

Layne played for the Lions from 1950-58. Heed the Lions to national championships in 1952 and 1953 and was on sideline with broken leg when they won third national title in 1957.

Layne was called the “toughest quarterback who ever lived” in a 1995 Sports Illustrated story. He was one of the last players in the NFL to take the field without a face mask.

Stafford, in his sixth season with the Lions, is from Highland Park, Texas — the same hometown as Layne.

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