Top 10 all-time draft picks by Kansas City Chiefs
6. Willie Lanier
The Chiefs selected linebacker Willie Lanier in the second round of the 1967 NFL Draft. Lanier was a two-time All American at then NAIA Division I Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lanier was actually the second linebacker drafted by the Chiefs that year. It’s possible that had first round pick Jim Lynch not missed the first two weeks of practice for the College All Star Game, he may have started early instead of Lanier. As it turns out, Lynch moved to the outside and Lanier never looked back.
In the NFL, Lanier was the first African-American star at the linebacker position. He became known as “Contact” for his vicious hits and playing style. He was so durable, he only missed one game in his final 10 years. For his entire career, he only missed five.
Even though you wouldn’t expect it from a 6’1” middle linebacker, Lanier was a ballhawk. Every year but his first and last, he had multiple interceptions, grabbing as many as five in 1975. Over a nine year period from 1968 to 1976 Lanier had 27 interceptions total. Those would be incredible numbers even today.
Aside from his great career, likely Lanier’s defining moment in Chiefs’ lore was his impassioned commands to his teammates in the 1969 divisional round playoff game against the New York Jets. Trailing 6-3 in the fourth quarter, the Jets poised to score with first and goal on the Chiefs’ one yard line, Lanier passionately rallied the troops to a heroic goal line stand for the ages. Three incredible plays later the defense would hold the Jets’ offense to a field goal, and the Chiefs’ would win that game en route to the franchise’s only Super Bowl.
Like most on this list, Lanier has a long list of accomplishments. Starting in 1968 Lanier was voted to two straight AFL All Star games followed by six straight Pro Bowls. He was selected to the equivalent of First Team All Pro in 1968, 1971, and 1973. He was the 1972 Walter Payton Man of the year, inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1985, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
The two-time AFL Champion and one-time Super Bowl Champion checks in at number six on this list and remains one of the best draft picks in team history.
ANNUAL IMPACT SCORE: 28.8