Ranking the KC Chiefs Pro Football Hall of Fame members
#4 – Willie Lanier, Middle Linebacker – Class of 1986
Known as “Contact” for his vicious hits and playing style, Willie Lanier is one of the greatest players regardless of position to ever play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Drafted by the team in 1967 in the inaugural NFL Draft, Lanier would spend the entirety of his career with the team.
Ironically, Lanier wasn’t believed to be the premier linebacker selected by the team in 1967. With both players on the board the team opted for an overshadowed but still all time Chiefs great in Jim Lynch at pick 47. Lanier was picked three picks later.
A superstar at Notre Dame and Maxwell Player of the Year recipient, Lynch would miss the first two weeks of practice for the Collegiate All Star game. Lanier would take advantage of Lynch’s absence and never look back.
The first African-American star at the middle linebacker position, Lanier’s career was highlighted by durability. The 1972 Walter Payton Man of the year only missed one game in his final 10 seasons with the team, making it to six straight Pro Bowls and named the equivalent of being named First Team All Pro three times.
Lanier’s career had its highlights, but likely his defining moment came in the 1969 AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New York Jets, the Super Bowl champion of two seasons prior.
At frosty Shea Stadium, with the monstrous crowd of green’s deafening chants thundering behind them, Lanier would lead the Chiefs defense in arguably the greatest defensive series in franchise history. After an impassioned speech by Lanier the defense would stop the Jets on three straight plays on the Chiefs own one-yard line setting the team up for a pivotal victory.
Lanier would go on to have a successful career in business, but he is remembered in Chiefs Kingdom for his legendary exploits on the field. The eight-time All Star was a pivotal character in the tapestry of Chiefs history and is one of the greatest players at his position in NFL history.
“Those who evaluated me never thought I was as good as I thought I was. You see, I came into pro football with a heckuva purpose. I looked upon it as a helluva challenge to prove something. Being the first black middle linebacker placed me in an unusual position.” – Willie Lanier