The best Kansas City Chiefs to ever wear the uniform: No. 33
By Matt Conner
In this special offseason series, we analyze the best players in Kansas City Chiefs history to wear every single uniform number. Here’s No. 33.
A retired number typically means that we all have ingrained memories of that player. If it was a recent induction, we likely all spill the same tales of our favorite plays. We quote statistics, even though we can’t even remember the phone numbers of those closest to us. It’s part of being a fan.
There are, however, exceptions to that rule of retired numbers and today’s entry at No. 33 is one such moment. As we parade through the uniform numbers in Kansas City Chiefs history, trying to find the best player to wear each, No. 33 is a stop-and-explain moment, a tragic story that moved a franchise to retire a number so the memory would not be lost.
For the sake of our column, let’s say quickly that there is no “best player” to wear No. 33 in Chiefs history. Besides Stone Johnson, two players have worn the uniform and neither merit any real attention. That’s not a slight on them but a reality on the complete lack of playing time and impact they had. It’s also a nod that Johnson, the man whose number was retired, never actually played a game for the Chiefs.
Who was Stone Johnson?
Stone Johnson was an elite sprinter who represented the United States in two separate events in the 1960 Summer Olympics—an event most remembered for Muhammad Ali’s emergence and the return to Rome as event host.
Johnson should have won the gold medal as part of the men’s 4×100 relay team, since the U.S. finished in first place over Germany, but they were disqualified due to a baton violation. He also ran as an individual competitor in the men’s 200 meter and finished 5th overall with a time of 20.8 seconds, just 0.3 seconds off of the gold-winning time of Italian Livio Berruti.
The Kansas City Chiefs were anxious to see what that incredible speed could do on the football field and for good reason. Even today we see track stars like Jamaal Charles and Tyreek Hill put on the pads and outpace everyone in the stadium, so picture this scenario 55 years ago.
Unfortunately, Johnson would never play in an actual game. In a preseason exhibition for the Chiefs in Wichita, Johnson was part of the blocking unit on a kick return play and ended up fracturing his neck on a kick return for the Chiefs. Safety measures in those days were sorely lacking and one account says the ambulance took up to 30 minutes to arrive. Ten days later, Johnson had tragically passed away at the young age of 23.
Next: The Best to Wear It: No. 32
The Chiefs decided to honor Johnson’s memory and story by retiring his jersey No. 33 then and there. Their decision 55 years ago is a reminder to us even today of Stone Johnson’s story, his potential and the continued need for player safety measures in the NFL.