Carlos Monarrez

Detroit Free Press

Gail Cogdill, a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the best receivers in Detroit Lions history, died Thursday night of complications from heart and kidney failure and dementia in Spokane, Wash. He was 79.

The Lions selected Cogdill in the sixth round of the 1960 NFL draft out of Washington State and he played for them in 1960-68. He caught 43 passes for 642 yards his first season and was named NFL offensive rookie of the year on his way to the Pro Bowl. Cogdill also made the Pro Bowl in 1962 and ’63.

“Gail was simply a great football player, an outstanding receiver and teammate," Hall of Fame teammate and coach Joe Schmidt said Friday. "Frankly, we didn’t take advantage of his ability.”

Cogdill's best season came in 1962, when he had career highs of 53 catches and 991 yards. That year, he was named the Lions’ most valuable player on a team that included Hall of Famers in Schmidt, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Yale Lary and Dick LeBeau.

Cogdill finished his career with the Lions as the team’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. He ranks sixth on the team’s all-time receiving list in receptions (325), fourth in receiving yards (5,221) and seventh in receiving touchdowns (28).

“It was an honor to have played with Gail and I learned a lot from him," former Lions receiver and punter Pat Studstill said Friday. "I used to watch him like a hawk, how he came off the line of scrimmage, the way he ran his out patterns, everything. He had such great hands and was strong as an ox and I don’t believe there was a better athlete on the team. He was so good that he often was double covered and I was the beneficiary of that. Gail was nice to everyone, his teammates, and the fans and I will miss him.”

Beyond the numbers, Cogdill was a spectacular player. Cogdill was 6 feet 3 and made the kind of acrobatic catches that would make Odell Beckham proud these days.

In a 17-9 loss to Green Bay at Tiger Stadium in November 1961, Cogdill caught six passes for 68 yards. Two of the passes especially impressed coach George Wilson.

“On the first catch, he reached behind his back with his left hand and pulled in the ball while in full stride,” Wilson told the Free Press in an article published Nov. 29, 1961. “I think the whole stadium turned upside down with that one.”

Former Lions tackle Roger Brown shared a story Friday about his time with Cogdill.

"Gail and I became close friends when we arrived together in Detroit as rookies," Brown said. "We wanted to be roommates on the road, but back then they wouldn't allow a black person and white person to room together, so I ended up with Night Train Lane.

"One time when we played in Miami for the Runner Up Bowl. Night Train, Danny Lewis, Willie McLung and I had to stay in a black hotel in the black section of Miami. When the team bus came to pick us up, Gail and Nick Pietrosante asked 'What are you guys doing out here?' Gail said, 'We came as a team, we play as a team and we'll leave as a team.' That night we all stayed together in the same hotel.

"Gail was a helluva receiver and just a beautiful person. He was such a good friend, and I am lost by his passing."

Cogdill is survived by his wife Dian, their children Austin and Gary, and three children from his previous marriage, Kristen, (Mike Dunlap) Eric, and Caroline. He also is survived by a granddaughter, Devin, and two great grandsons Noah and Josiah.

Cogdill’s brain and brain stem are being donated to Boston University for the concussion study. He will be cremated and a memorial service will be held sometime in November at the Heritage Funeral Home in Spokane.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to either the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, 8770 W. Bryn Mawr Ste. 1300 Chicago, IL 60631 or The Providence Child Center, 830 NE 47th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97213.

Longtime Detroit sports writer Bill Dow contributed.

Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!