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The offensive line was Lane’s first choice. Although his efforts and passion for the sport were right on track, would-be Hall of Famers such as Tom Fears and Crazylegs proved to be steep competition for the 6’2” Lane. He gave it his best effort and continually sought advice from Tom Fears in the locker room. Fears happened to always play a particular hit record, “Night Train.” As the book “Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Time Greats” explains, “One day, a teammate entered the room, saw Dick and blurted out, ‘Hey there’s Night Train,’ and ‘Night Train Lane” it was from then on.”
The Ram’s coach, Joe Stydahar, soon made the decision to move Lane to defense. Both his physical statue and attributes meshed perfectly for a model defensive line player. Lane burst onto the NFL scene in 1952 by setting a record for most interceptions in a single season with 14. Accomplished when the NFL played only a 12-game regular season, this record still stands today. Lane also ranks 3rd all-time for career interceptions with 68. Though his gambling style of play produced many interceptions, it was Lane's ferocious tackling that is most memorable.
Many a receiver in the '50s and '60s cringed at the prospects of facing the "Night Train" one-on-one. Their fears were well-founded. Lane's preferred technique of tackling was to "rip" a receiver down by his neck and head. This "rip" often had receivers more concerned about their well-being than the football. For this reason, the NFL eventually outlawed this "head-hunting" technique. This, however, did not diminish Lane's ability to dominate games.
In 1969, just four years after his retirement, Lane was voted the best cornerback in the first 50 years of the NFL. Five years later he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, forever remembered as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history.
 Lane died from a heart attack on Jan. 29, 2002 at his home. “Night Train” left an impression on the game of football, a legacy that is noted on the pages of sports history books and felt in the derivative inspiration players of today have gained from his inspiring accomplishments. In 2001, his memory was etched into the hearts of Texans when he was posthumously inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
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