The COAT – The Running Back Group
Abner Haynes - Hank Stram may have summed up Haynes best — “He was a franchise player before they talked about franchise players.” Might have a hard time winning over younger voters, but should be considered by all.
Stone Johnson – Johnson died from complications due to one of the most tragic football accidents ever. He’s not likely to receive any votes, but we wanted to honor him anyway.
Mack Lee Hill – Another tragic story, Hill died due to complications from a knee surgery. The Truck was a pretty damn good player. The Chiefs rookie of the year award is named after him and his number, 36, is retired.
Priest Holmes – What can I say that already hasn’t been said about Priest? He personified professionalism on and off the field, as he was a star as both a player and a person. If injuries hadn’t of forced his impending retirement, Priest would likely be the runaway winner in this group.
Larry Johnson – My guy. For my money, L.J.’s the best running back ever to wear the red, white and gold. Has a good chance to advance to the round of 16.
Mike Garrett – Garrett is probably best remembered as the leading rusher from the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning ‘69 team. A very good player, but he’s up against some tough competition.
Curtis McClinton – Deserves to be mentioned, but not much more. He actually played back-up TE on the ‘69 team.
Ed Podolak – A Chiefs HOFer whose name still appears in the franchise record books. A serious contender to emerge from this group.
Tony Richardson – The best fullback the Chiefs have ever had. Period. T-Rich likely won’t move on, but he will get some votes.
Christian Okoye – The Nigerian Nightmare was as dominant as a running back could possibly be before injuries prematurely ened his career. The future reality show used to eat up defenders like those chicken pot pies he so loved.
Joe Delaney - Another tragic story. Delaney passed away trying to save three boys from drowning. He died in the prime of his career, so we never quite saw what he was capable of. President Reagan awarded Delaney the Presidential Citizen’s Medal following his death.
Kimble Anders – The only other Chiefs FB that is even in the same league as Richardson. He was a different kind of back, though. Anders was a hybrid back that could literally do everything well — run, catch, block, etc… Anders is often forgotten by Chiefs fans, but his game was too versatile to exclude him from this prestigious list.
Barry Word – A last-minute edition from our staff. If Word hadn’t started his career late and ended it early, there’s no telling how good he could have been. He also played alongside Okoye, and that’s going to hurt any back’s numbers.
Marcus Allen - We left him off the list originally, not sure why — maybe because it’s hard not to remember him as the MVP of the ‘83 Raiders Super Bowl team. Great goalline player that deserves to be on the list. Redbeard’s suggestion got him added.
Let me know if you want anything added. Insufficient sleep and enough coffee to kill Juan Valdez and his donkey can sometimes lead to brain farts. Thanks…
just waiting for the poll to be changed on the side…>>>>>>>>>>
May 16th, 2007 at 3:30 pmWaiting for the Green-Montana battle to be decided.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:38 pmok…I do hope the people who vote remember this is *The COAT* all time and they need to consider we had a great team here before most were born…
case in point D. Thomas, and the current QB decision.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:13 pmDerrick Thomas had the ability to single-handedly take over games that no other Chief has quite ever had. He had that Lawrence Taylor or Jason Taylor-like ability to destroy an offense with one play. And offenses always had to account for D.T.’s whereabouts. And I’ve seen Lanier play. I wasn’t born yet, but I’m an NFL Films junkie. I very much know what kind of player he was. They both will likely be in the final 16, so it shouldn’t matter.
As for Green and Montana, I really don’t think any of those guys can hang. And Dawson is in first, where he should be.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:49 pmTrue….
Although most people don’t watch old games over and over as some of us do…lol
DT also missed assignments that others(Donnie Edwards) had to compensate for…
May 16th, 2007 at 9:50 pmallowing games to be lost…And DT blew the MONDAY GAME AGAINST DENVER SINGLE HANDEDLY AS WELL…:)))
poor Shannon Sharps neck when it was twisted off…ouch
I am glad you pointed out Delaney’s tragic carreer, as most people don’t know of it.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:52 pmWow, almost 70 votes already! Thanks to everyone for making this comptetion exciting so we can find the true COAT!
May 16th, 2007 at 10:08 pmWhat? NO Harvey Williams? Puhlease.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:02 amHarvey Williams? Haha. Love it.
I voted for Priest Holmes because stats wise, he is at the top. Nobody was more dominant in a Chiefs RB uniform.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:47 amhey Harvey did ok in OAKLAND…lol
May 17th, 2007 at 8:56 amI went with holmes as well. the offence just got a whole lot more fun to watch when he arrived. a tad more exciting than guys like bam morris and donnell bennett.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:44 amI went with Christian Okoye. Being an Alumni of William Jewell College, I was able to see him during those training camp years. Those were the days of 4th quarter pounding. Nothing against the others, and there are some great ones. I’m just a little more biased having witnessed some of his behind the scene performances.
May 17th, 2007 at 2:09 pmTotally understandable. Okoye is certainly an enticing pick. He’s kind of like Bo Jackson because his legend is exaggerated due to the way he played. Injuries will really hurt his chances in The COAT, I believe.
May 17th, 2007 at 2:38 pmHis legend grows…
May 17th, 2007 at 2:56 pmI don’t think he was the best , and probably wont get to wear the Red *COAT*,
But I have yet to see Priest
or *L J* carry five guys ten yards, I have seen L T of San Diego carry four a whole ten yards,but I cant remember the team they played.
When Okoye carried the ball,if the linemen didnt move their man he literally ran over them.
*HEY…Maybe thats what the new O-linemen need a few tracks up there backs….then maybe the line moves forward…lol
oh I remember the team L. Tomlinson carried on his back was our sorry tackling Chiefs
((((((((
May 17th, 2007 at 2:57 pmi bet you greg wesley was somehow involved.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:40 ammaybe
May 18th, 2007 at 2:51 pmNo, Wesley probably did his infamous should tackle and whiffed. Then was laying on his back watching his teammates try and tackle someone. That guy is the perfect example to show young football players on how to NOT tackle someone. Wesley might as well cut off his arms because he never uses them.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:17 pmwell, at least he has a cool haircut. maybe the giants want him.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 am