Jeff Backus (born September 21, 1977) is an American football offensive tackle with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Backus played football for the University of Michigan. He was drafted with the 18th pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He resigned with Detroit on July 13, 2006, receiving a six year deal.

Backus attended Norcross High School (Norcross, Georgia), and was a standout in football and baseball. He spent his freshman year at Marist School in Dunwoody before returning to Norcross, where he played his middle school years. In football, as a senior, he was a USA Today All-America selection, and was chosen by the Gwinnett Touchdown Club as the Gwinnett Touchdown Club's Lineman of the Year.

In July 2001, Jeff Backus signed a $7 million 5 year contract with the Lions, including $3.2 million sign bonus. On July 2006, Jeff Backus signed a $40 million 6 year contract with the Lions. Backus is known as a tough player throughout the NFL, never missing a game due to injury and starting all 172 games he has played in.

John Matthew Stafford (born February 7, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia. He is the 4th quarterback in NFL history to throw over 5,000 yards in a single season.

Stafford was born in Tampa, Florida to John and Margaret Stafford. He lived in Dunwoody, Georgia while his father attended graduate school at the University of Georgia. His family then moved to Dallas, Texas, and Stafford attended Highland Park High School. He was coached by Randy Allen and was widely considered to be one of the best high school quarterbacks in the United States in the Class of 2006, ranked ahead of Tim Tebow.

Stafford made his varsity debut in the 2002 playoffs against Sulphur Springs High School. He lettered in baseball as a power hitting first baseman where he was teammates with future Major League Baseball pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Jordan Walden. However, after a disappointing junior football season in which he threw for only 1,748 yards, 18 TDs and 11 INTs, Stafford quit baseball to concentrate on football.

Gus Backus (born September 12, 1937 in Southampton, Long Island, New York as Donald Edgar Backus) is a former member of the Del-Vikings. He also released a single on Carlton Records in 1958. He later became a popular singer in 1960s West Germany after he was stationed there as a soldier in the U.S. Army at Wiesbaden Air Base from 1957.

Andre Bernard Gurode (pronounced /dʒəˈrɒd/; born March 6, 1978) is an American football center and guard who is currently a free agent. He played college football for the University of Colorado, and earned All-American recognition. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the fifth pick of the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and has played professionally for the Cowboys and Ravens.

Gurode was born in Houston, Texas. He played high school football at North Shore High School in Houston. As a senior, USA Today, PrepStar and SuperPrep selected him as an honorable mention high school All-America. He was also named to the Houston Chronicle Top 100 List and made the Austin American-Statesman "Fab 55" team. He earned all-area honors as a senior (second team honors as a junior), and was all-district and all-Greater Houston as a junior and senior (when he also was his team's most outstanding offensive lineman).

Gurode lettered three times in basketball and four times in track with personal bests of 186' 0" in the discus and 54' 1" in the shot put.

Bryant Douglas McKinnie (born September 23, 1979) is an American football offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Miami, and was twice recognized as an All-American. He was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and has played professionally for the Vikings and Ravens.

McKinnie was born in Woodbury, New Jersey. He attended Woodbury High School in Woodbury, New Jersey, and played high school football for the Woodbury Thundering Herd.

McKinnie played for two years at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. There, he gained 70 pounds and converted from his high school position as defensive lineman to offensive tackle. After junior college, he received a scholarship to transfer to the University of Miami and play for the Miami Hurricanes football team.

After redshirting in 1999, McKinnie started his junior and senior years at left tackle for Miami. During his college career he was an extraordinary blocking tackle, not allowing a sack on a quarterback against opposition such as future NFL star Dwight Freeney from Syracuse. McKinnie was however penalized for holding Freeney on one play, a rare blemish on his memorable season. McKinnie received first-team All-American honors in 2000, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2001. Also in 2001, McKinnie was the winner of the Outland Trophy, finished 8th overall in voting for the Heisman Trophy, was the CNN Sports Illustrated "Player of the Year" and a key part of the Hurricanes' 2001 National Championship. Also at UM, he was roommates with NFL tight end Jeremy Shockey.