Greg Landrysugarplay, who in the late 1960s and ’70s became a forerunner of the modern dual-threat quarterback and, after a glittering All-Pro season for the Detroit Lions in 1971, made the Pro Bowl — the last Lions quarterback to earn that distinction for more than 40 years — died on Friday in Detroit. He was 77.

His death, in a hospital, was confirmed by his son Greg Jr., who said the cause was not yet known.

Landry, who was considered one of the best players in the history of the University of Massachusetts, was selected 11th overall in the 1968 National Football League draft. He was the first quarterback taken.

He wore the Lions’ Honolulu blue and silver for 11 seasons, tallying 12,451 yards and 80 touchdown passes.

In 1971, his first year as a starter, Landry passed for 2,237 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning a first-team All-Pro nod and his only trip to the Pro Bowl. He was the last Lions quarterback to earn that distinction until Matthew Stafford was named an alternate for the 2014 Pro Bowl.

“There were a lot of quarterbacks that had good years after me,” Landry said in a 2006 interview with The Detroit Free Press. “It’s unfortunate that they’ve started to suggest, ‘Greg, you’re the last good quarterback.’ I appreciate the compliment, but I know some of those guys played pretty well.”

Unusual for an era marked by pocket passers, Landry did damage with his legs as well as his right arm: He rushed for 2,655 yards over his career, which concluded with stints with the Baltimore Colts and the Chicago Bears. In both 1971 and 1972, he ran for more than 500 yards.

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