Dudley and Steelers’s coach Jock Sutherland did not always get along well. As a result, Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions after the 1946 season. Although he planned to retire from the game, “Bullet” could not pass up the guaranteed three-year contract and $20,000 a season that the Loin’s were offering him. He was elected captain of his team all three years, 1947-1949.

The Lion’s team had plenty of heart but, unfortunately, they were lacking in the talent arena. During his first year with the Lion’s, the team finished last but Dudley shinned through. In an October 19 game against the Chicago Bears, Dudley returned a punt for an 84-yard touchdown. This return is still the fourth longest in NFL history. That same year he scored 13 touchdowns; 7 on pass receptions, 4 on runs from scrimmage, 1 on a punt return, 1 on kickoff return and throwing 2.

In Dudley’s last season with the Lions, he led Detroit in scoring for the third year in a row. The team had evolved to include more talented players and the Lions finally clawed out of the losing position with a 4-8 mark.

At the end of the 1949 season, Dudley’s three-year contract came to an end. Lions coach Bo McMillin traded him to the Redskins where “Bullet” played for three seasons, leading the team in scoring every year. On December 3, 1950 Dudley intercepted a mind-boggling 60 yard punt kicked by Steelers’ player Joe Geri. “Bullet” ran over 30-yards before he reached his hands out of bounds, while keeping both feet in bounds, and intercepted the punt at the Redskin’s four-yard line. He grabbed the pigskin and ran it untouched for a 96-yard touchdown.

Dudley took a break during the 1952 season but returned in 1953, playing part-time on the Lions’ defense and as place-kicker. The rest of his time was spent coaching the backs, a task Dudley enjoyed immensely. He retired at the end of the season due to knee injuries and an overall physical deterioration. He continued utilizing his football wisdom by coaching and scouting for the Steelers and the Lions. Dudley entered the insurance business in Lynchburg with his brother Jim in 1951 and worked with Home Life until switching to Equitable in 1961. “Bullet” currently lives in Virginia and works for Life Insurance.

“Bullet” Bill Dudley encompassed a truly amazing talent in the game of football. Today he is immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He has even been honored with an award named after him. The Downtown Club of Richmond, Virginia has sponsored the Bill Dudley Award since 1990, awarded each year to the state’s top college football player. The “Bullet” truly cannot be stopped; his talent, endurance, competitive attitude and love of the game will continue to inspire athletes for decades to come.
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