part in the Lions' collapse. The team would improve the next year, finishing 7–5–2. Despite this, they missed the playoffs. Detroit began losing its defense when Yale Lary retired following the 1964 season, while both Schmidt and Lane would retire a year later. The Lions struggled through the mid to late '60s, but used the time to rebuild their roster eventually drafting Lem Barney to replace Lane, Bob Kowalkowski and Ed Flanagan to build up the offensive line and running back Mel Farr. Despite said players being Pro Bowlers, the Lions still needed a franchise player which they found in the 3rd round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft when they drafted Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders, a 7-time Pro Bowler who is considered one of the best players to ever play the position. Decade of mediocrity (1970–1981) With the AFL–NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. Motown soul singer Marvin Gaye made plans, after the death of duet partner Tammi Terrell, to join the Lions and go into football. He gained weight and trained for his tryout in 1970, but was cut early on. He remained friends with a number of the players, particularly Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who appear as background vocalists on his 1971 classic single "What's Going On." Finishing with a 10–4 record, they were the first team to qualify for the NFL's newly created wild card playoff position. However, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 5–0 after a long, grinding defensive struggle and did not see the postseason again for the rest of the decade. Despite the loss, the 1970 Lions remains one of the best teams in franchise history and one of the most underrated teams in NFL history. Also in 1970, the Lions were the opponent on the day Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked what was then the longest field goal in NFL history. Dempsey's 63-yard effort on the game's final play lifted the Saints to a 19–17 victory over the Lions. While playing at home against the Bears on October 24, 1971, tragedy struck when wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. He remains the only NFL player to ever die on the field. To honor his memory, the team wore black armbands for the rest of