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The best players drafted by the Chiefs who never played for the team

By Kelly Thompson

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 5: Runningback Gale Sayers #40, of the Chicago Bears, runs the ball as guard George Seals #67 sets up to block during a game on October 5, 1969 against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 5: Runningback Gale Sayers #40, of the Chicago Bears, runs the ball as guard George Seals #67 sets up to block during a game on October 5, 1969 against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI – JANUARY 17, 1971: Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19, of the Baltimore Colts, is hurried on his pass attempt as Dallas Cowboys’ defenders George Andrie #66, Bob Lilly #74 and Jethro Pugh #75 try to block it during Super Bowl V on January 17, 1971 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Glenn Ressler #62, of the Colts, tries to block for Unitas. The Colts beat the Cowboys, 16-13 on a last second field by kicker Jim O’Brien. Johnny Unitas7102 (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
MIAMI – JANUARY 17, 1971: Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19, of the Baltimore Colts, is hurried on his pass attempt as Dallas Cowboys’ defenders George Andrie #66, Bob Lilly #74 and Jethro Pugh #75 try to block it during Super Bowl V on January 17, 1971 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Glenn Ressler #62, of the Colts, tries to block for Unitas. The Colts beat the Cowboys, 16-13 on a last second field by kicker Jim O’Brien. Johnny Unitas7102 (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

3. Bob Lilly

In the second round of the 1961 AFL Draft, the Dallas Texans selected TCU defensive lineman Bob Lilly. The same year, the Dallas Cowboys also selected the Texas native in the 1st round of the NFL draft, and Lilly chose to play with the Cowboys.

Lilly was the first draft pick in Dallas Cowboys history, subsequently, he earned the moniker ‘Mr. Cowboy”. And, humorously:

"“Lilly said he wasn’t even aware the Cowboys drafted him, according to The Dallas Morning News’ Brendan Meyer: When the Dallas Cowboys made their first NFL draft selection in franchise history, their newest player was in his TCU dorm, completely unaware. It was Dec. 27, 1960. Bob Lilly was a 21-year-old consensus All-America and a Texan who dreamed of playing professional football in his home state. But the draft wasn’t televised, and he wasn’t expecting pick-by-pick updates. “Because back then,” Lilly said, “the draft wasn’t a big deal.”"

Lilly has said he’d have been happy to play for either but that it was his college coach at Texas Christian who steered him toward the NFL over the AFL due to “a longer track record of success.”

It was a huge loss for the Texans. Lilly went on to play 14 seasons with the Cowboys, and started all 196 regular season games in his career. He was an 11 time Pro Bowler and a seven time 1st Team All-Pro. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Had Lilly chosen to play for the Texans, the team may have never selected fellow Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan two years later.

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