Detroit Lions

Did you know Marvin Gaye tried to join the Detroit Lions?

Published Aug. 6, 2015 3:18 p.m. ET

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You may already know legendary musician Marvin Gaye as the "Prince of Motown," but did you know his connection with Detroit almost included a run with the Lions?

A recent video from SB Nation details Gaye's frustration with the music industry in the early 1970s and how he almost left it all behind to join the NFL. He had two friends on the Lions in Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who helped him train for a tryout.

Gaye -- who was 6-foot-4 and had added 30 pounds to his frame, according to the video -- was ultimately turned away by Lions head coach Joe Schmidt, but Farr and Barney still sang backup vocals for the 1971 hit single "What's Going On?"

Watch the fascinating piece of forgotten history in the video player below.

(h/t SB Nation)

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